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The aviation industry has been submitted to a set of environmental and commercial drivers that have led it to pursue engine technologies focused on the efficiency improvement, greenhouse (CO2) and pollutant (NOx and PM) emissions reductions, as well as noise abatement.The effort to comply with the ambitious long term environmental and efficiency targets set by the regulatory authorities has driven the aeronautic industry in a technological research effort. In the medium term, the aviation industry's strategy for commercial aviation is to focus on the advanced, but rather conventional propulsion systems (mainly turbofan engines). In this scenario, technological efforts have focused basically on enhancing thermal efficiency, through advanced core engines, as well as improving propulsive efficiency, through the use of low pressure systems (basically reduced pressure ratio and increased engine bypass ratio).

The aviation industry currently holds a share of 2% global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although relatively small, estimated demand increase indicates an up to 350% emission rise in 2050, in the so called “no action scenario”. These emissions are injected into the upper atmosphere, with a potentialized stronger greenhouse effect than at ground level. In this context, ambitious emission reduction targets have been proposed into a global commitment, focused into a long term carbon emission reduction strategy, which would lead to net GHG emissions to peak in 2020, and then halves by 2050, based on 2005 levels, while accommodating increased air transport demand. To achieve this challenging goal, a multifaceted approach is required, ranging from technology oriented actions, like revolutionary aerodynamically driven design, new composite lightweight material and engine technology improvement, as well as improved ground and flight operational practices.