A grant of £236,000 designated for establishing a future flight innovation zone at Exeter Airport and iAero in Yeovil, part of Devon and Somerset's initiative, has seen limited expenditure thus far. The funds were intended to support advancements in technology to reduce carbon emissions within the aviation industry. Although a small portion of the funding has been utilized, efforts are being made to explore new avenues for its allocation after receiving approval for rollover from the government. The future flight innovation zone aims to capitalize on the region's expertise and infrastructure by serving as a testbed for various future flight technologies. This initiative includes testing hybrid, electric, and hydrogen-powered aircraft under real-world conditions, incorporating a range of partners such as Devon County Council, the Met Office, the University of Exeter, and Exeter College. Tom Winters, the economic development manager at East Devon, highlighted the potential for Exeter Airport to benefit from the underspent grant, expressing optimism for additional opportunities in the aviation sector. Despite some challenges in the progress of economic development strategies, the council remains committed to realizing its ambitions, with a focus on leveraging the available funding to drive innovation and economic growth in the area.