Brussels, 20/06/2007 (Agence Europe) -European Commissioner for Research Janez Potoènik was at Le Bourget Airshow on Wednesday 20 June, where he presented a large-scale draft public-private partnership, aiming to make air transport more environmentally friendly. This joint technological initiative, to be known as “Clean Sky”, aims to reduce CO2 emissions by around 40%, NOx by 60% and noise by 50%. Technological advances are hoped for by 2015, in time for major fleet renewal in the pipeline. This progress will relate to the three main categories of aircraft (long-range, regional and rotorcraft) and, more generally, engines and “systems”. EU funding will provide €800 million under the seventh framework programme for research, with the private sector contributing the same amount to the project. The participation of the private sector will come from all sectors of aviation and aeronautics, with businesses playing a major role in six fields of research: the SMART fixed wing aircraft, green regional aircraft, green rotorcraft, sustainable and green engines, systems for green operations and eco-design. (oj)