Groningen Airport Eelde starts with NXT Airport

Meiltje de Groot, director of Groningen Airport Eelde: "It's clear that aviation and airports need to innovate and become more sustainable. We're going to play an active role in this. Groningen Airport Eelde is a regional and flexible airport, which provides ample space for research and testing. For example, NXT Airport can play a key role in innovations in hydrogen applications. This aligns well with the hydrogen ambitions of Noord-Nederland''.

There are also opportunities in the integration of manned and unmanned aircraft, as Groningen Airport Eelde is the only airport in the Netherlands with an exemption for flying drones. Jan Terlouw (Country Manager of Saab): "At Groningen Airport Eelde, we've launched a major project involving remotely piloted cargo aircraft, led by the Netherlands Aircraft Company. We're also working with the Air Traffic Control Netherlands (LVNL), which is also being introduced in the Netherlands at Groningen Airport Eelde."

Electric flying

When it comes to electric flight, Groningen Airport Eelde is also a logical location to be the first to implement it on a larger scale. Electric flight will initially involve smaller aircraft over short distances, such as training flights. Groningen Airport Eelde, home to the KLM Flight Academy, is the premier training airport in the Netherlands.

Collaboration

Meiltje de Groot: "With NXT Airport, we want to serve as a testing ground, specifically within the themes that align well with our region and our airport. We would also like to invite other (regional) partners from the business community, educational institutions, and government to connect with NXT Airport and jointly take steps toward sustainable aviation."