The UK is currently the second biggest aerospace manufacturer in the world, but growing competition from emerging nations like China and India means it could risk losing its position. The “Aero 2075: Flying into a bright future?” report sets out key recommendations to enable the UK to tap into enormous and economy-changing sales. Even in the next 20 years, there are potential sales of 25,000 new aircraft, set to be worth over £2 trillion ($3 trillion).

Stephen Tetlow, Chief Executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said: “Now is the time for industry and Government to focus on sectors that can help lift the country’s economy. The UK aerospace sector already employs over 100,000 people around the country and is worth over £29bn a year to our economy, but we need to take action now to ensure this sector can continue to thrive and grow.

“There is great potential for new UK aerospace technologies, but in order to compete with emerging nations, we need to set up a strategic vision for UK aerospace, establish a new dedicated aerospace research body and restore research and development funding to pre-recession levels.”

The report examines new technologies like formation flying for commercial aircraft - which is more fuel efficient and less environmentally damaging; commercial aircraft with blended wing design – where the wing blends smoothly with the plane’s wide tail-less fuselage - making the plane more efficient and less noisy; aeroplanes powered by solar or hydrogen fuel cells; and intelligent navigation.

In the report the Institution calls for Government and industry to:

• set out a long-term strategic vision for investing in the UK’s aerospace sector as it is vital to the UK’s economic recovery.
• establish a UK Advanced Technologies Aerospace Research Centre.
• ensure UK PLC is an attractive investment location and restore research and development funding to pre-recession levels.

Read the full report: www.imeche.org/Aero-2075