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Embraer Reveals Zero Carbon Emission Concept Aircraft Embraer recently announced the Energia family of aircraft, which would use renewable energy propulsion technology, as the company explores ways to help the industry achieve its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050…
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he details of the Energia family, the latest in Embraer’s Sustainability in Action initiative, were broadcast live via YouTube from Embraer’s manufacturing facility in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The company partnered with an international consortium of engineering universities, aeronautical research institutes, and small and medium-sized enterprises to better understand energy harvesting, storage, thermal management, and their applications for sustainable aircraft propulsion. The Energia Family is comprised of four concept aircraft of varying sizes that incorporate different propulsion technologies – electric, hydrogen fuel cell, dual fuel gas turbine, and hybridelectric. These include:
Energia Hybrid (E9-HE) • Utilizing hybrid-electric propulsion • Offers up to 90% CO2 emissions reduction • Nine seats • Rear-mounted engines • Technology readiness – 2030 Energia Electric (E9-FE) • Full electric propulsion • Zero CO2 emissions • Nine seats • Aft contra-rotating propeller • Technology readiness – 2035 Energia H2 Fuel Cell (E19-H2FC) • Hydrogen electric propulsion 106 Vol 25 Issue 12 2021 AVBUYER MAGAZINE
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Airbus delivered an ACH145 recently with a fully vegan interior. Fitted with the ACH Line interior configuration, the leather elements essential to its luxury feel were replaced with Ultraleather, which captures the visual and tactile leather experience with comparable durability. Items specially designed and fabricated in the replacement material include the passenger seats, central storage cabinet, rear partition and cockpit controls cuffs. www.airbus.com
Zero CO2 emissions 19 seats Rear-mounted electric engines Technology readiness – 2035
Energia H2 Gas Turbine (E50-H2GT) • Hydrogen or SAF/Jet A turbine propulsion • Up to 100% CO2 emissions reduction • 35 to 50 seats • Rear-mounted engines • Technology readiness – 2040. Each aircraft is being evaluated for its technical and subsequent commercial viability. “We see our role as a developer of novel technologies to help the industry achieve its sustainability targets,” said Luis Carlos Affonso, Embraer’s Senior Vice President of Engineering, Technology, and Corporate Strategy. “There’s no easy or single solution in getting to net zero. New technologies and their supporting infrastructure will come online over time. We’re working right now to refine the first airplane concepts, the ones that can start reducing emissions sooner rather than later. “Small aircraft are ideal to test and prove new propulsion technologies so that they can be scaled up to larger aircraft. That’s why our Energia family is such an important platform,” he concluded. More information from https://embraercommercialaviation sustainability.com
Bell Textron says its Bell 525 Relentless completed its first flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the summer. “The Bell 525 continues to demonstrate unprecedented performance as it progresses through flight testing,” noted Doug May, Vice President of Flight, Bell. Bell is currently engaged with the FAA on Type Inspection Authorization (TIA) flight testing, and is submitting certification artefacts to the FAA in parallel. www.bellflight.com
Daher delivered the first TBM 940 from an order of four to DGA-EV, France’s government-run Flight Test organization. The handover occurred at the TBM final assembly line in Tarbes, France. Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of Daher’s Aircraft Division, provided the keys to General Arvind Badrinath, Director of the Flight Test organization for the DGA procurement agency. www.daher.com www.AVBUYER.com