International Journal of Sustainable Aviation (4 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Hydrogen standards and aviation sustainability: a gap analysis of ISO, SAE and ASTM documentation  
  by Eva Maleviti, Evangelos Stamoulis, Elen Paraskevi Paraschi 
  Abstract: The aviation industry aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, but widespread adoption of hydrogen propulsion is limited by the lack of aviation-specific standards and certification processes. Although numerous hydrogen standards exist, their suitability for aviation safety, certification, and sustainability has not been fully assessed. This study systematically reviews 24 international hydrogen standards and regulations, evaluating their applicability across seven aviation lifecycle stages: fuel quality, storage, fuelling infrastructure, certification, aircraft operation, continuing airworthiness, and end-of-life management. Findings show that most standards focus on early stages, with around 70% coverage for fuel production and quality and 60% for fuelling infrastructure. A key gap is the absence of a dedicated qualification process for hydrogen aviation fuel. Most existing standards originate from road and industrial sectors and require adaptation for aviation. This research provides a comprehensive lifecycle mapping of hydrogen standards for aviation and identifies priority areas for future standardisation efforts.
  Keywords: hydrogen standards; decarbonisation; aviation; sustainability; ISO; SAE; ASTM; certification; GAP analysis; standardisation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSA.2026.10077771
   
  
• Fuel efficiency challenges and technological advancements in the aviation industry  
  by Sohrab Tak, Umit Hacioglu, Melike Zehir, Umaal Ahmed Khan 
  Abstract: This systematic literature review identifies technological advancements and implementation challenges affecting fuel efficiency in commercial aviation. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 182 peer-reviewed articles published between 2010 and 2025 from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and IEEE Xplore were analysed. Six primary fuel-efficiency technologies were identified: sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), aircraft design innovations, air traffic management optimisation, operational improvements, weight-reduction technologies, and fleet modernisation. SAFs demonstrate lifecycle emission reductions of 50-80%, though production costs remain 2-3 times higher than conventional jet fuel. Aircraft design innovations offer 20-50% efficiency gains but face certification delays. Operational optimisation delivers immediate savings of 5-10%. Five implementation challenge categories technical, infrastructure, economic, regulatory, and environmental create interdependent adoption barriers. This study provides comprehensive synthesis beyond isolated technology assessments, systematically categorising advancements and persistent challenges, offering structured evidence for airlines, manufacturers, and policymakers navigating sustainable aviation transitions.
  Keywords: fuel efficiency; commercial aviation; PRISMA; technologies; challenges; sustainable aviation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSA.2026.10078033
   
  
• Tracing the path to green skies: a century of air traffic management development  
  by Zhijun Wu, Xue Zhang Liu, Raafat George Saadé, Bo Li 
  Abstract: The aviation industrys journey toward sustainability increasingly depends on how air traffic is organised, governed, and digitally transformed. This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the evolution of air traffic management (ATM) through the lens of environmental performance and innovation strategy, namely the development of communication, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) systems and examines how digital transformation initiatives are redefining efficiency and safety, within environmental sustainability. Using a comparative and integrative approach, the study identifies strategic enablers and bottlenecks in the transition to a network-centric, data-driven green ATM. These include challenges in data interoperability, cybersecurity, and cross-border regulatory alignment. The paper proposes a conceptual framework defining green ATM as a coordinated, global system-of-systems that leverages digital intelligence, policy harmonisation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to achieve climate-neutral aviation. It concludes that the next competitive advantage in aviation will emerge not from fleet renewal alone but from managerial and policy innovations.
  Keywords: air traffic management; ATM; security; aviation; smart transport; artificial intelligence; green ATM; CNS; SESAR; CAAMS; air space.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSA.2026.10078070
   
  
• Assessing ground risk buffer compliance of agriculture drones in urban air applications under the SORA framework  
  by Tamer Savas 
  Abstract: The increasing number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in commercial operations has underscored the need for precise operational safety measures. Within the specific operations risk assessment (SORA) framework, the ground risk buffer (GRB) defines horizontal safety margins to limit harm to people on the ground in loss-of-control scenarios. This study systematically compares two established GRB calculation methods, the SORA 1:1 rule and a simplified ballistic model, using rotary-wing agricultural UAVs (DJI Agras series) across a range of altitudes (10100 m) and speeds (520 m/s). The results demonstrate that horizontal speed is the dominant factor affecting GRB values. The 1:1 approach provides a simple conservative estimate for low-speed missions but becomes restrictive at higher speeds, while the ballistic model remains an idealised approximation needing refinement. The study provides a model-by-model comparison on representative UAV platforms, demonstrating the operational implications and trade-offs of conservative GRB assumptions.
  Keywords: SORA; ground risk buffer; GRB; ballistic approach; unmanned aerial vehicle; UAV; safety.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSA.2026.10078947