OCAVIA is the Oxford – Cambridge Arc’s Virtual Institute in Aviation; a grouping of five of the Universities of the Arc, working together to complement existing efforts in the creation of a zero-emission aviation sector. In this article Professor Iain Gray, Director of Aerospace at Cranfield University and Chair of OCAVIA, looks at how we address the industry’s impact on the environment, together with continuing to develop our international standing as market leaders of innovation and regulatory reform. Only by working together can we drive both forwards.