Will establish Norway as an international test arena for zero- and low-emission aviation

Avinor provides infrastructure, airspace and access to energy, and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority provides regulatory facilitation.

– The test arena will in principle cover the entire country. Concrete geographical locations for the establishment of test facilities will be decided in dialogue with market players, based on their needs, as well as assessments of technological maturity. Interested producers and operators must be able to submit an operational concept and answer pre-defined qualification criteria. Dialogue with the market has already started, says Abraham Foss, CEO of Avinor.

Establishing Norway as an international test arena will build up the Norwegian market as a test area and early market for the introduction of zero- and low-emission aircraft. This can contribute to the solutions that are relevant for the Norwegian market coming to Norway earlier, and will be an important step on the way towards the development of zero-emission aviation on a larger scale globally. As of today, there is no equivalent test arena in an operational environment in the world.

– Green transformation in aviation can contribute to Norwegian business development, including by creating new business areas in areas where the Norwegian supplier industry possesses valuable expertise, such as battery-electric propulsion systems, charging infrastructure and hydrogen technology. This expertise will also be of great importance to the global aviation industry, says Foss.

Instrument to achieve the goal of fossil-free aviation in 2050

– The purpose of the agreement is to facilitate accelerated phasing in by reducing barriers for testing and demonstrating zero- and low-emission aircraft. The test arena will provide the market with a common point of contact at Avinor and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority, and a common process from concept to test and demonstration flight, which includes infrastructure, airspace, energy and regulatory facilitation, for national and international players who want to test and demonstrate zero- and low-emission aircraft in Norway, says aviation director Lars Kobberstad in the Norwegian Aviation Authority.

– The extensive network of airports in Norway and close and good cooperation between Avinor as the airport operator and responsible for the airspace, and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority as the regulator means that Norway is in a unique position to facilitate the testing of new technology in an early phase, says Kobberstad.

A test arena will be a means of achieving the goal of fossil-free Norwegian aviation by 2050.

– Avinor and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority already have an extensive collaboration in order to be able to deliver the best possible joint transport and sector policy goals. Through this agreement, the two are establishing a closer strategic collaboration to deliver on the government’s ambitions for accelerated phasing in of zero- and low-emission aircraft and sustainable restructuring of aviation, says Abraham Foss.

The arena will also mean early and active involvement of the aviation authorities and is highlighted by the market players as being of great importance. This includes collaboration with the EU’s aviation authority EASA, to establish the framework for testing and demonstration, as well as ensuring that this becomes a good arena for learning and competence building.

NTP gives a powerful signal to the market

– With a prioritized framework of NOK 1 billion in the National Transport Plan 2025-2036 to facilitate the transition to zero and low emission aviation, the government is sending a powerful signal to the market about ambition and direction for development, says Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård.

– This follow-up of the Aviation Strategy shows political will over time for restructuring aviation. By prioritizing increased resources for the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority and Avinor, the parties to the agreement are enabled to be driving forces for change. The establishment of the test arena is a central and concrete measure to achieve the government’s goal of speeding up the introduction of new technology in Norwegian aviation as soon as it is ready, says Nygård.