ICAS 2026 Congress Highlights Aeronautics Innovations and Sustainability Challenges

The 2026 International Council of Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS) Congress, hosted by the Royal Aeronautical Society Australian Division, took place in Sydney from 13-18 September. Over 900 delegates attended the event, which featured dozens of sessions spanning four days, covering a wide range of topics in aeronautics.

Key lectures included Adnan Raghdo from Boeing Aerostructures Australia discussing the development of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, and Veronique Roca from Airbus detailing the Beluga XL. Both speakers highlighted the challenges and achievements in their respective projects. Francisco Hernandez also presented on the capabilities of the Airbus A400M.

The Global Sustainable Aviation track, now in its third year, addressed the environmental impact of aviation. Axel Krein from the EU’s Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking noted that aviation would be the 11th largest CO2 emitter if it were a country. He emphasized the three pillars of sustainability: Planet, Profit, and People, and highlighted workforce challenges such as an aging workforce, technological shifts, and attracting younger talent.

Michael Drake from Boeing presented findings suggesting that delaying the launch of a new aircraft by five years could reduce cumulative CO2 emissions if efficiency improvements of 1.5% per year are achieved. The panel also discussed the potential of an open-rotor engine configuration and a Blended-Wing Body aircraft.

A panel on next-generation propulsion explored noise requirements and non-CO2 emissions, with Andrew Murphy from Pratt and Whitney emphasizing the long-term impact of noise standards. Alan Newby from Rolls-Royce discussed the potential of methane as a fuel, noting its cost and emission benefits compared to kerosene.