Kenyan Universities Engage on Sustainability Aviation Challenge

 In a powerful display of industry-academia collaboration aimed at driving the global transition to sustainable aviation, Sky Team alliance members KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Kenya Airways (KQ) delivered the IEEE The Aviation Challenge Masterclass at the University of Nairobi.

The high-level event served as a nexus for future-forward engineering, bringing together top student talent from the University of Nairobi, Technical University of Kenya, and Kenyatta University to compete and collaborate on impactful climate solutions. The breakthrough came at the close of an intense TAC Masterclass and IEEE Aviation Challenge event, which focused on propelling the industry toward a sustainable future. The Masterclass, held in partnership with the IEEE Student Chapter, kicked off with a high-stakes briefing.

Prof. John Mande, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Human Resource and Administration (Ag), (UoN) who represented the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jesang Hutchinson, welcomed the challenge as the best way of harnessing the talents to move the country forward.

Joris Holtus, General Manager for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, opened the event with an Introduction to The Aviation Challenge (TAC), a global Sky Team initiative promoting radical solutions for reducing the environmental and social impact of commercial flights. He highlighted the importance of global collaboration, noting that the challenge is "not just about one sustainable flight, but about embedding impactful innovations across all operations."

Ms. Zita Schellekens, Senior Vice President (SVP) of Strategy, Sustainability, and Transformation at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, on the nation's capacity for aerospace innovation. Ms. Schellekens, who also sits on the KLM Executive Committee, used the platform to champion initiatives for both organizational growth and environmental stewardship.

In her address on KLM's Sustainability & Innovation Pathways, Ms. Schellekens reinforced the objective of the SkyTeam Aviation Challenge: to accelerate progress towards Net Zero by harnessing the power of friendly competition and knowledge-sharing across the industry. Schellekens provided insights into KLM's Sustainability & Innovation Pathways. She detailed the airline's strategy, which includes investing in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and implementing AI-driven efficiency tools for flight operations, underscoring that sustainability is a core pillar of the company's long-term strategy.

The regional perspective was championed by Wakina Mutembei, Sustainability Lead at Kenya Airways. Her presentation, "Kenya’s SAF Journey & Regional Innovation," showcased the airline’s pioneering efforts, including its commitment to establishing Kenya's first local SAF production plant and its success in eliminating 24 tonnes of annual plastic waste through innovative onboard catering solutions, a victory which earned them top honors at the 2024 SkyTeam Aviation Challenge. A Kenya Airways Engineer also provided crucial Engineering Insights, giving students a technical grounding in the real-world application of sustainable designs.

The pinnacle of the masterclass was the Student Masterclass Presentations, where four teams unveiled projects designed to drive sustainability and deliver major returns on investment. The projects were: "SAF for Kenya" by Kevin Maina: A feasibility study focusing on local feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel production, "Waste to Rest" by Amani Emmanuel: A novel approach to converting aviation-related waste into useful products or energy, "SAF AI" by Ivy Cheruiyot & Stacey Ogombe: A powerful AI model for optimizing the blending and logistics of SAF and "Green Miles" by Joy Wangechi: A comprehensive model demonstrating how sustainable engineering can lead to significant operational cost savings for airlines.

The projects were met with strong approval during the open interaction session, which led directly to the announcement of a groundbreaking Recognition & Awards segment.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, represented by Zeta, and Kenya Airways, represented by Bett, jointly committed to advancing the development of the students' concepts. The airlines announced that all four student projects would progress to a new development phase under the mentorship and potential financial backing of both carriers.

The collaboration marks a significant moment for the University of Nairobi, the IEEE, and the African aviation sector, positioning the university as a vital hub for engineering solutions in the global push for net-zero aviation. The successful masterclass underscores the industry's recognition of young talent as a key driver for the profound technological and strategic changes required for a sustainable future in flight.