10 minute read
8. gulFsTream on a deTermined susTainable paTh
Chapter 7
Engine Manufacturers’ Efficient Efforts for Greener Skies
From structural experiments to efficient propulsion systems, from collaborations to investments and testing, initiatives are underway in a wide expanse
By Ayushee ChAudhAry
Sustainability is no longer just the buzz word of the town in the aviation industry as there are conscious discussions and actions being taken up constantly. There is a clear awareness that the future of the market will be significantly determined by how the aviation industry innovates to lower emissions and improves fuel efficiency. From airlines to aircraft and engine operators, everyone is playing a key role. Here we take a look at some of the initiatives that the major engine manufacturers have taken to contribute towards greener skies.
Pratt & Whitney
As one of the leading names in the engine industry, Pratt & Whitney (P&W) is constantly adding to the list of its sustainable efforts. Developing hybridelectric propulsion technology is a core element of Pratt & Whitney’s strategy to make aviation more sustainable. The latest being its hybrid-electric propulsion technology that aims to drive significant improvements in aircraft efficiency by optimising performance across the different phases of flight, allowing the demonstrator to target a 30 per cent reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions, compared to a modern regional turboprop airliner. P&W Canada (P&WC) is working with De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited to integrate this hybrid-electric technology into a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 flight demonstrator. This demonstrator will include an advanced electric motor and controller from Collins Aerospace, also a Raytheon Technologies business.
Additionally, as part of Canada’s green recovery plan, the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund is backing the technology demonstrator. The Government of Quebec is supporting this project through Investissement Québec and the Ministère de l’Économie et de l’Innovation, as part of an initiative known as, “Aéronef pour la mobilité numérique et verte de demain” (Green and Digital Aircraft of Tomorrow). P&WC is targeting ground testing in 2022, leading to flight testing of the Dash 8-100 demonstrator in 2024.
The company is also committed to continually advancing the efficiency of gas turbine engines across its portfolio, while supporting the wider use of SAF, and pursuing alternative fuels.
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Chapter 8
Gulfstream on a Determined Sustainable Path
The sustainability programme of the aerospace company goes beyond the usage of SAF and includes various innovative ways
By SP’S Staff CorreSPondent
Last year in December, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation recognised the many achievements of its Customer Support organisation in 2020, including operations and expansions across the globe, new technologies for Gulfstream aircraft and continued success in sustainability, which has been at the core of Gulfstream’s operations.
To especially note its effort towards sustainability in the pandemic year, the manufacturer highlighted that in July 2020, Gulfstream opened an all-new, 2,25,000-square-feet service center in Farnborough, England. The facility which can accommodate up to 13 large-cabin aircraft, including the Gulfstream G700 has been created in line with Gulfstream’s sustainability strategy. The Farnborough facility has been designed with environmental benefits, including rainwater harvesting, radiant heating systems in the purpose-built hangar, intelligent lighting controls and heat recovery systems.
In September last year the company had also announced the extension of its contract with World Fuel Services to continue providing the businessjet manufacturer with a steady supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced by World Energy. Gulfstream President Mark Burns announced the deal during the Virtual 2020 Business Aviation Sustainability Summit to discuss pathways to accelerate the market for SAF.
This contract extends Gulfstream’s original multiyear purchase agreement, which was the first of its kind in business aviation when it was signed in 2015. Since March 2016, Gulfstream has used SAF for its Savannah-based fleet, which comprises corporate, demonstration, completion, customer support and flight test aircraft. The company has made more than 650 flights using 9,00,000 gallons of SAF-JET, a fuel blend, flying more than 1.3 million nautical miles and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1,700 metric tonnes.
Gulfstream claims that its sustainability strategy helps support industry goals established by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC). The goals include: y 50 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 relative to 2005 levels; y 2 per cent improvement in fuel-efficiency per year from 2010 to 2020;
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Last year, Gulfstream opened a service center in Farnborough, designed with environmental benefits, including rainwater harvesting, radiant heating systems in the purposebuilt hangar, intelligent lighting controls and heat recovery systems
Chapter 9
Passenger Health & Confidence, a Priority to Pace Recovery
It is important to take into account that this pandemic has not only accelerated technological innovations and shifted economies but has also had a drastic and ever-lasting impact on consumer behavior. How one travels, and what one looks for while travelling has completely changed. Passengers’ concerns, convenience and care are going to play important role on the road ahead for aviation industry.
By Ayushee ChAudhAry
Following a consistent rise in demand for years, the global air travel came to a halt in 2020. Second year into the pandemic initiated by the novel coronavirus, we are yet to experience air travel at its momentum. In its passenger demand performance for June 2021, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) noted a minute improvement in both international and domestic air travel markets as demand remained significantly below pre-COVID-19 levels. Total demand for air travel in June 2021 was down 60.1 per cent compared to June 2019. Despite such an extensive decrease, this was an improvement over the 62.9 per cent decline recorded in May 2021 versus May 2019 by IATA.
This year there certainly is some movement that has been initiated especially in a few key domestic markets but the situation for international travel is nowhere near where it needs to be for appropriate recovery. While international restrictions are a major cause for this slow improvement, it is important to take into account that this pandemic has not only accelerated technological innovations and shifted economies but has also had a drastic and ever-lasting impact on consumer behavior. How one travels, and what one looks for while travelling has completely changed now. Regaining passenger confidence is crucial. Inmarsat’s ‘Passenger Confidence Tracker’ revealed that eight in ten air passengers say their travel habits will change as a result of COVID-19.
Travelling is no longer just about innovative technologies, appealing offers and comfort but the seamless experience that a passenger needs. Safety now has an added dimension of health security. From taking a cab to the airport from our homes to reaching the hotel at our destination or vice-versa,
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Chapter 10
Propelling and Collaborating for an Electric Future
Newer and innovative eVTOLs, electric motors, engines, partnerships and designs are continuously pacing up the UAM ecosystem
By Ayushee ChAudhAry
With an increased focus on reducing the carbon emissions, the aviation industry is constantly designing ways to innovate. In that attempt, electric propulsion aircraft are gaining momentum as a large number of autonomous electric aircraft and engines are being developed. There are multiple players in the market now, some of the major ones who are leading the electric aviation scenario have been curated below.
Airbus
European manufacturer, Airbus commenced on its electrification journey a decade ago, developing the world’s first all-electric, four-engine aerobatic aircraft, CriCri. Since then, they have been progressing in the electrification of flight. Airbus’ all-electric, twin-propeller aircraft E-Fan successfully crossed the English Channel in 2015, the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) demonstrator projects, Vahana and CityAirbus, have already completed many hours of flight testing programmes and E-Fan X is providing important insights on serial hybrid-electric propulsion. On its path to zero-emission flight, Airbus’ EcoPulse, a distributed hybrid-propulsion aircraft demonstrator developed in partnership with Daher and Safran, completed wind tunnel testing this year.
Airbus is also working on the electrical engine cooling concept, considering that electrical engines produce heat while running, which is why they need a cooling system to lower temperatures, both on the ground and in flight.
Archer
California-based Archer Aviation debuted its Maker aircraft in June 2021. Backed by the United Airlines commercial order and the merger with Atlas Crest Investment Corporation, the company is valued at $3.8 billion, and is confident of its financial position to continue toward commercial launch in 2024. Archer stated that it’s creating the world’s first electric airline that moves people throughout the world’s cities in a quick, safe, sustainable, and costeffective manner. As the world’s only vertically integrated airline company, Archer is designing, manufacturing, and operating a fully eVTOL aircraft that to read the complete article can carry passengers for 60 miles at speeds of up to 150 mph while producing minimal noise. get Your copY now! On its path to zero-emission flight, Airbus’ EcoPulse, a distributed hybridpropulsion aircraft demonstrator developed in partnership with Daher and Safran, completed wind tunnel testing this month
Chapter 11
Flying Cars –Taking the High Road
By Ayushee ChAudhAry
Human’s obsession with flying cars is not new. The concept of flying cars has been around for decades. People have experimented by adding aircraft wings to a car and attempting to make it fly. Science fiction has always made us awe at cars flying through the buildings in our favourite super hero comic or movie. Flying cars do promise to cut the travel time, free us from the traffic woes, and certainly transform the way urban landscape looks. Well, the future where your car can lift off from the road and rise above the traffic literally is not too far. Here are our flying cars picks that are already hitting the road and touching the sky, ready to transform far fictional future into a right-now reality.
Pal-V: ‘a car that flies and a Plane that driVes’
The Dutch company, PAL-V’s (Personal Air Land Vehicle) acclaimed first commercial flying car, the PAL-V Liberty is getting closer to deliveries. It is on its way to hand over the keys to its first customers in 2022. After being the first flying car to get road permission for Europe, PAL-V is now also the first to complete the full certification basis with EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency). The Liberty had already been approved for road usage in 2020.
The Pioneer Edition of the Liberty, explains the company, is for those that want to be part of the group of 90 that writes history becoming the first car flyers in their country. The 665 kg PAL-V Liberty comes with dual engine, a maximum airspeed of around 180 km/h and a maximum range of 500 km and within five minutes the PAL-V converts easily from a car into a gyroplane. Using existing infrastructure to take off and land, the PAL-V Liberty complies with the existing rules and regulations for both road and air licensing. Its three wheel design offers advantages in the mechanical design as well as for safety during landing as “one front wheel is easier and safer especially with crosswind landings”. The Human Error Proactive Counteraction methodology (HEPC) of the company uses a flight simulator to model potential pilot errors and mistakes, and then try to work out how they can be avoided in the design of the PAL-V Liberty.
As a gyroplane, the PAL-V Liberty cannot stall because the gyroplane rotor (powered by the airflow) is always in auto-rotation during flight. Even an engine failure will not affect the autorotation as, due to the speed of the wind and the force of gravity, the rotor will always rotate and generate lift. It is comparable to an opened parachute so you can land and be in full control even without the engine, ensures the company.
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PAL-V Liberty is the first to complete the full certification basis with EASA after already being approved for road usage in 2020 with deliveries planned for next year
