At Aerospace Tech Week, Willie Walsh, Director General, The International Air Transport Association (IATA) joined for a five minute discussion on the industry landscape. During the interview, he outlined a path for tackling the sustainability challenge and looked at the failures of the Single European Sky (SES) deal.
Underscoring the critical role of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in navigating the decarbonisation of the industry, Walsh briefly mapped out the role governments must play in stimulating its scale up. Highlighting the concerning disparity between the US and European SAF production, Walsh cautioned that we are not seeing the right balance between incentives and mandates being adopted internationally, and governments are failing to recognise the opportunity in front of them.
Walsh urged that effectively addressing the sustainability challenge will take the support from every member of the ecosystem including governments, regulators, OEMs etc. Singling out fuel suppliers, Walsh said:
“Traditional fuel suppliers who have made hundreds of billions in profit off the industry over the years need to significantly accelerate their investment in the production of SAF […] They’re part of the problem, they’ve got to be part of the solution.”
Unpacking the flaws of the SES deal which Walsh previously condemned as a “failure,” he highlighted its initial promises: a tenfold improvement in safety, tripling Europe’s airspace capacity, substantial cost reduction, and a 10 per cent decrease in CO2 emissions. Criticising the deal for falling short on all four fronts, Walsh described the deal as “very disappointing given the critical importance of all of those issues.”
Questions asked:
You described the EU’s Single European Sky deal as a failure. Which areas in particular did the agreement fall short and to what extent will this impact the industry’s ability to modernise European air traffic management?
What do you see as the major challenges when it comes to meeting the net zero by 2050 goal and how many of these are going to require government involvement to overcome them?
How do you propose we catalyse the mindset shift towards a more inclusive ecosystem involving governments, suppliers, airlines etc.?
Yesterday, results from the world’s first in-flight study looking at the impact of using 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on both engines of a commercial aircraft were shared. Here’s what was found.
“Using SAF in flight could significantly reduce the climate impact of aviation in the short term by reducing non-CO2 effects such as contrails, in addition to reducing CO2 emissions over the lifecycle of SAF.”
The study looked at emissions produced by both engines of an Airbus A350 powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and had a DLR chase plane follow the aircraft to collect data on soot particles and contrail ice crystals. The soot emitted by aircraft engines helps to form contrails that evolve into cirrus clouds which often have an overall warming effect. Previous research has already shown that non-CO2 effects, like contrails, could account for a large proportion of the industry’s environmental impact.
The ground breaking ECLIF3 study, conducted by Airbus, Rolls-Royce, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), and SAF producer Neste has reported its findings in the Copernicus journal Atmospheric Chemistry & Physics (ACP) as part of a peer-reviewed scientific process. The test provides the “first in-situ evidence of the climate impact mitigation potential of using pure, 100 per cent SAF on a commercial aircraft.”
Results showed 100 per cent SAF had a 56 per cent reduction in contrail ice crystals compared to Jet A-1 fuel in an Airbus A350. The global climate model simulations by DLR looking at radiative forcing also estimated a 26 per cent reduction of the impact of the contrails compared to the Jet A-1 reference fuel.
Mark Bentall, head of Research & Technology Programme, Airbus, said:
“We already knew that sustainable aviation fuels could reduce the carbon footprint of aviation. Thanks to ECLIF studies, we now know that SAF can also reduce soot emissions and ice particulate formation that we see as contrails. This is a very encouraging result, based on science, which shows just how crucial sustainable aviation fuels are for decarbonising air transport”.
For many years, the industry has been experimenting with automation. Enhancing safety, efficiency, and accuracy, automation is now a key aspect of modern aviation.
One project using artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate single-pilot operations is the Honeywell-led Digital Assistants for Reducing Workload & Increasing collaboration (DARWIN) project under the European Union’s SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking.
The project gathers together industry technology providers, aircraft OEMs, leading research institutes, air navigation service providers, and key European institutions and regulatory bodies to research a human-AI collaboration system, “defining clear roles and responsibilities.”
As technology develops, these systems are becoming increasingly advanced and although the vision is for AI and a single pilot to work together, it is clear that the human pilot will remain the ultimate decision-maker.
Jolana Dvorska, Senior Research & Development Manager and Architect for SESAR, Honeywell Aerospace explained the projects’ forward-looking mission:
“A need for higher autonomy requires digital transformation. For both, we need to build trust in AI-based solutions. DARWIN will develop a scalable human-AI collaboration concept that can gradually introduce new functions and pilot assistants, in line with the EASA AI Roadmap.”
At Aerospace Tech Week, 17-18th April, MOC – Event Center Messe Munchen, Munich, Jolana Dvorska will speaking on the SESAR DARWIN project. Talking through the development of scalable human-AI collaborative systems for advanced single-pilot operations. Book your ticket now to hear more.
It was announced earlier today that IAE International Aero Engines AG (IAE) has successfully tested the V2500 engine with 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
At a MTU Maintenance Hannover in Germany, the engine was tested using Neste’s 100 per cent Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosine (HEFA-SPK). Produced through hydrotreating renewable raw materials such as waste oils, or fats into an aviation turbine fuel, this fuel is a prominent jet fuel alternative.
The V2500 engine is renowned as “one of the most successful engines in the history of commercial aviation,” and it currently powers the A320ceo family aircraft, among others. With nearly 3,000 aircraft still using the engine, this successful test marks a significant milestone in the endeavour to prioritise sustainability moving forwards.
Michael Schreyögg, Chief Program Officer, MTU Aero Engines:
“MTU Maintenance Hannover is the first maintenance, repair and overhaul facility worldwide to carry out a 100 per cent SAF test on a V2500. This test demonstrates our commitment to supporting greater use of SAF across both our entire network and the broader industry. We remain dedicated to working with IAE, suppliers and partners to ensure not only that our products are capable of operating with SAF but also that our maintenance, repair and overhaul infrastructure can support all operators and owners with their SAF testing requirements.”
Ongoing SAF testing paired with commitment to sustainability policies across the industry ecosystem speak to feasibility of hitting decarbonisation targets.
At ATW Europe, Grégoire Desmasures, Head of Upgrades and Sustainability Services Marketing, Airbus, Sanan Chaharkama, CoFounder & CTO, Nexus Lab, and Adam Harris, Global Chief of Testing Facilities, Rolls Royce are speaking on a panel titled: SAF and beyond – Looking forward at the future of sustainable flight ops. This will explore testing, SAF research, net zero goals, and more. Book your ticket now to avoid missing out.
IAE is a multinational consortium is comprised of Pratt & Whitney, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, Pratt & Whitney Aero Engines International GmbH, Japanese Aero Engines Corporation, and MTU Aero Engines AG.
Yesterday it was announced that Aeromexico has adopted IBM’s AI powered tool to perform informed climate risk analysis for its fleet. Responding to the growing challenge that adverse weather conditions poses, the technology will allow Mexico’s flag carrier to monitor, anticipate, plan, and respond to the potential impact of extreme weather on air operations.
Through climate risk analysis and the leveraging of geospatial data from a variety of routes, the airline can adjust operations to optimise efficiency and safety through informed flight planning.
Diego Convalia, Aeromexico’s Vice President of Technical Flight Operations, said:
“This technology complements the most modern aircrafts like the ones we have, the expertise of our crews and the air traffic control technology and services of the countries where we operate. […] it helps us in decisions for takeoffs, landings, flight routes and ground operations, which contributes to elevate flying to be an extraordinary experience.”
Manuel Gonzalez del Yerro, Sustainability Software Leader for IBM Latin America explained:
“The future of business and the environment are deeply connected, and technology is allowing a greater understanding of climate and how it can impact businesses. For us, Aeromexico’s trust in IBM technologies to help them manage climate risk is a source of pride, putting safety measures and efficiency above all else and anticipating adverse atmospheric events.”
As the airline industry continues to evolve, it must respond to the changing landscape of threats. By harnessing sophisticated technology, operational efficiency can be maintained without compromising safety.
Grzegorz Ombach, Head of Disruptive Research & Technology and Senior Vice President, Airbus joined to discuss sustainability, technology, and innovation.
During the interview, Ombach highlighted the complexities of achieving net zero targets during the industry’s ongoing expansion. Underscoring the significance of the actions taken today in shaping the industry’s trajectory, Ombach said:
“Everything we do during the next 20 years before we reach net zero is going to stay with us for the years to come. We have to make the right decisions.
20 years from now based on the global market forecast [the number of aircraft are] expected to double to about 46,000, therefore we are going to have even more challenges […] A lot of changes have to happen during this time.”
Looking at the disruptive technology aimed at addressing these challenges, Ombach also shared his insights into Airbus hydrogen-powered aircraft and other broader industry initiatives set to revolutionise the future of flight.
Ombach will be discussing these themes on a keynote panel at Aerospace Tech Week, looking at the technologies and frameworks needed to drive sustainable aviation. Speaking about his upcoming attendance at the event, Ombach explained:
“The future is not just what you do in your house, but also how you collaborate with this external ecosystem.”
Watch the full interview below.
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