On 16th June 2026, a training session themed "Green Aviation Technology and Supply Chain Management" was successfully held. The session was delivered by Kang Yuanli, who systematically explained the emission-reduction targets and technology roadmaps for green aviation, focused on analysing the feasibility of hybrid and battery technologies, and introduced COMAC's practices and standards in green supply chain management, carbon footprint accounting, and AI-assisted assessment.

Green Aviation Emission-Reduction Targets and Technology Roadmap

The global aviation industry has set the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, requiring the entire industry to undergo profound change across the full life cycle of aircraft design, manufacturing, operations, and recycling. The thermal efficiency of conventional turbofan engines is already approaching its physical limits, and simply improving existing configurations will make it difficult to achieve substantial emission reductions. It is expected that before 2035, the mainstream aircraft on the market will still be conventional configurations such as the A320 and B737; after 2035, as new configuration technologies such as the blended wing body mature, the aviation industry will undergo revolutionary change. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is constrained by production capacity and cost; it is estimated that by 2050 its supply will be able to meet only about 65% of demand and cannot fully replace conventional fuel.

Assessment of Power System Technology Pathways

Hydrogen faces enormous challenges in storage, transport, and airport infrastructure modification, and large-scale commercialisation will be difficult in the short term. All-electric solutions are limited by battery energy density and are suitable only for short-haul commuting or small aircraft. Hybrid solutions are regarded as the most realistic technology pathway at present, capable of effectively balancing weight and range; a 30% fuel substitution rate is expected to be achievable within five years, while electrified maintenance can significantly reduce airline maintenance costs.

Green Supply Chain Management and Carbon Footprint Accounting

COMAC has established a strict green supplier assessment system, requiring suppliers to provide proof of non-polluting materials and reports on recyclability after 30 years; currently about 4,000 domestic suppliers are undergoing qualification review. COMAC uses AI technology to develop online assessment tools that monitor supply chain carbon emission data in real time. It has also established a full life-cycle carbon footprint accounting system, promoted water-based paints as a replacement for solvent-based paints and paperless manufacturing, and set up green manufacturing demonstration factories.

Operations and Design Optimisation Strategies

In terms of operations, using AI and big data to optimise route selection can reduce carbon emissions by about 3%, and promoting electric tugs to replace engine taxiing reduces ground fuel consumption. In terms of design, weight reduction is achieved by optimising cable layouts and adopting lightweight materials, improving efficiency without changing the core configuration.

This training provided attendees with a systematic perspective on green aviation technology and supply chain management, and the event came to a successful close amid lively discussion.