Expert Talk Vienna 2025: TU Wien and AACII discuss the future of climate-friendly aviation

On 28 May 2025, this year's Expert Talk on the topic ‘Do we have to adjust our Research & Development Priorities in Aviation after recent developments at Aircraft OEM`s at the beginning of 2050 and with regard to e.g. Flightpath 2050?’ took place in the Festsaal of  Technical University Wien. The event was organised in proven cooperation between Trapp Networks (AACII) and the Institute of Engineering Design and Product Development at TU Wien.

Leading experts from the aviation industry, representatives of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), industry associations and scientists from TU Wien discussed current research results, technological developments and solutions for sustainable aviation.

Test-Fuchs kicked things off with a presentation on current EU policy developments in the field of aviation and alternative propulsion systems. Prof Martin Berens continued with a presentation on innovative aircraft systems. He presented measures to reduce propeller noise emissions in Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), a new type of software for preliminary aircraft design and a hydrogen-electric propulsion system that helps to increase thrust by recovering waste heat from fuel cells.

Prof Michael Weigand focused on future propulsion systems in his presentation. He presented gearbox-based technologies for helicopters, tiltrotor and commercial aircraft with the aim of significantly reducing CO₂ emissions. He also provided insights into the work on the propeller gearbox for hydrogen-powered aircraft, which is being developed as part of the European Clean Aviation research initiative.

Another highlight of the Expert Talk was the presentation by Diamond Aircraft, which focussed on electric flying. The company presented current developments and experiences in the field of battery-based propulsion systems, which offer promising prospects for small and training aircraft in particular. The focus was on the rapid further development of battery technologies, which enable increasingly higher energy densities, shorter charging times and improved safety. These advances open up new possibilities for emission-free short-haul flights and emphasise the potential of electrification as a realistic solution for a more climate-friendly aviation sector that can already be implemented today.

The event once again emphasised the important role of TU Wien in research for climate-friendly aviation. Further events in this format are already being planned.

Further information:

AACII - Aerospace Advanced Concepts & Innovation Initiative

TU Wien - Institute of Engineering Design and Product Development

If you have any questions, please contact:

Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.-Ing. Michael Weigand

TU Vienna, Institute of Engineering Design and Product Development

E-Mail: michael.weigand@tuwien.ac.at