After 5 years of operation and collaboration the ECATS Network of Excellence
(NoE) will now transform itself into a registered Association of European Research Establishments
and Universities leading in the field of aeronautics and the environment. The transition from NoE
to the Association will take place during 2010 and 2011. This future ECATS Association has the
vision to support endeavours to make aviation more sustainable focussing on scientific expertise
and exchange of information. ECATS’ Virtual Fuel Centre focusses on alternative fuel characterisation
allowing operating a premix burner, measuring flame velocities, expanding kinetic schemes
and spray characterisation. ECATS’ Airport Air Quality (AAQ) focus area povides an assessment
of this highly interdisciplinary research field, and develops improved characterisation and approximation
specifications for aviation particulate matter emissions. ECATS’ third focus area is dealing
with global impact of aviation and green flight. Close collaboration is exploited in order to provide
updated estimates and synergies with other programmes established. The future ECATS Association
provides an efficient framework for collaboration between universities and research establishments
and helps making aviation more sustainable
