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”.
Aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) is on the brink of a transformation and AI is set to play a significant role in this evolution. From accelerating the industry’s digitisation to enabling predictive maintenance and cost savings, its potential is vast.
Recognising the need for rapid and continuous advancement in the MRO space, Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) has launched the LTP Startup Challenge 2024 in collaboration with Seedstars. This initiative seeks to catalyse MRO related innovation through exploring the potential of cutting-edge AI technologies.
LTP, a joint venture company of Lufthansa Technik AG and MacroAsia Corporation, offers a wide range of MRO services to customers worldwide. Building on the success of their previous LTP Startup Challenge in 2022, this year’s initiative focuses more exclusively on AI.
Sharing more details about the challenge, LTP specified round one will focus on AI algorithms, machine learning, automation, and predictive analytics for optimising MRO operations, while round two looks for solutions designed to enhance aviation MRO operations and address significant challenges related to efficiency, particularly from a high attrition rate among mechanics, time-consuming manual processes in production and support departments.
Stefan Yordanov, VP Finance and Strategy and Corporate Projects at Lufthansa Technik Philippines said:
“This year, we are particularly excited to focus on AI-powered solutions that can revolutionize aviation MRO. We believe that the integration of AI will unlock unprecedented efficiency and help us deliver superior services to our customers.”
The LTP Startup Challenge 2024 highlights not only the critical importance of innovation within aircraft MRO, but also the essential role startups play in driving that innovation. Find out more about the challenge here.
Earlier this month, regional aircraft manufacturer ATR and national flag carrier, Air Algérie signed the first Digital Maintenance Documentation package. The airline are the launch customer of this new service which is intended to strengthen the airline’s maintenance documentation system, optimising the engineering operations for its fleet of 15 ATR aircraft.
This will take three-party cooperation, with ATR providing customers with raw data of line maintenance publications in XML format, which is then uploaded into Air Algérie’s own maintenance management systems using Swiss-AS’s AMOS program that facilitated the digitalisation of airline maintenance management.
Laid Bouchama, Technical Director of Air Algérie said:
“We are proud to be the launch customer of this new service that will help us streamline our daily maintenance procedures, reducing downtime and increasing our fleet’s availability. This three-party cooperation ensures that we all benefit from the greatest expertise in terms of on-the-ground operations, engineering insights and digitalisation, to the benefit of our passengers who will appreciate the reliability of our service.”
The technology is anticipated to deliver time and cost savings, whilst elevating safety and compliance. It will enable Air Algérie to shorten revision processes, make the distribution of publications swifter and paperless, reduce preparation time for maintenance checks, standardise the structure and format of its documentation, improve information consistency across all aircraft manuals, and automate revision tracking and document control.
This sits within a wider trend towards paperless processes and operations. In April, Berk Atakan, Paperless Maintenance Project Manager, SunExpress will be speaking at Aerospace Tech Week discussing the transition to paperless aircraft maintenance operations. The agenda will be released imminently, so stay tuned.
In late 2023, Airbus achieved a major milestone in its sustainable aviation testing by powering-on the iron pod, a hydrogen-propulsion system for its electric concept aircraft, ZEROe. The achievement places Airbus firmly “on-track” to launching a hydrogen-propelled aircraft into service by 2035.
Hauke Peer-Luedders, Head of Fuel Cell Propulsion System for ZEROe said:
“It has been three years since we revealed an aircraft concept 100% powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Since then, we have adhered to our initial timeline and made tremendous progress. The recent success of powering on the iron pod system at 1.2 megawatts is a crucial step towards our goal of putting a hydrogen-powered aircraft in the skies by 2035.”
The fuel cells convert hydrogen into electricity through a chemical reaction, powering a propeller propulsion system with a by-product of simple H20, resulting in “almost zero emissions.” The team achieved the first successful power up of the electric motors of the iron pod using the hydrogen fuel cells for the first time.
To reach this milestone, Airbus created Aerostack, a joint venture with ElringKlinger, developing hydrogen fuel cell stacks. They also successfully tested the hydrogen fuel cell system in June 2023, reaching its full-power level of 1.2 megawatts – the most powerful test ever achieved in aviation of a fuel cell designed for large-scale aircraft.
During 2024, testing will continue on this first version of the iron pod while the ZEROe team optimises the size, mass, and qualifications of the propulsion system to meet flight specifications. Next steps will involve the installation of the fuel cell propulsion system on the ZEROe multimodal flight test platform – the first A380 ever produced by Airbus, MSN001 and ground testing of systems.
Working hard to realise the potential of hydrogen, Airbus recently opened a ZEROe Development Centre (ZEDC) for hydrogen technologies at its site in Stade. The centre is focusing on the development of cost-competitive lightweight Hydrogen systems in composites. Sabine Klauke, Airbus Chief Technical Officer said:
“The ZEDC will benefit from the wider composite research and development ecosystem such as the Airbus subsidiary Composite Technology Center (CTC GmbH), the CFK NORD in Stade as well as from further synergies from space and maritime activities.”
In April, Grzegorz Ombach, Head of Disruptive R&T, Senior Vice President, Airbus will be speaking at Aerospace Tech Week on a panel exploring net-zero technologies. The agenda will be released imminently, so stay tuned.
Last week, Viasat, Inc. hit a milestone, successfully demonstrating a UK satellite-based augmentation system (UK SBAS). Using ground monitoring data and satellite connectivity, UK SBAS can give positioning within a few centimetres of accuracy enhancing the reliability of onboard instruments for pilots, especially during bad weather.
As a result of Brexit, the UK has limited access to the EU’s European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and this trial showed that the UK-based SBAS delivers more precise and reliable navigation data.
The press release explained that although EGNOS can still be used for non-safety applications in the UK, this trial is a step towards a complementary UK SBAS which can be used for critical safety of life navigation services across air, land, and sea.
According to Viasat’s research, up to 40 per cent of flights cancelled due to weather could have happened if UK SBAS had been available for its fleet. The trial, funded by the Department of Transport, demonstrates how highly accurate GPS data can maximise safety and improve efficiency.
Todd McDonnell, President, International Government, Viasat, said:
“This trial on a sovereign UK SBAS is all about delivering trust. Trust for pilots in their tracking systems so they can stay safe in challenging conditions. Trust for the aviation industry more broadly so it can rely on data to operate more efficiently. And, in the future, trust that we can use highly accurate tracking to develop Britain’s transport system as new technologies come into play. We’re excited to continue the trial and see how far we can take it.”
Now the aviation stage has been completed, the trial will move forward, testing the system for other transport applications including rail, uncrewed aerial vehicles, and autonomous road vehicles.
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