POWERTRAIN


and perform the final checking and validation of the analysis or design. This also allows a route to certification. The rise of these technologies


has thrown up another challenge: to convince authorities and regulators that they provide the right approach for the industry and are safe to use. With the complexity of the


aeroplane design process, things will not change overnight and the industry will become far more digitally driven in the next five to 10 years. As new concepts continue to


change due to these agile technology developments, predicting what the exact implications of a faster aircraft design process will be is impossible. But embracing these developments will clearly set manufacturers up for success in the months and years ahead.


REACHING ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS Accelerating time-to-market of high-quality aircraft is not the only challenge facing the aerospace


manufacturers. Climate change is a global issue touching every facet of our lives and the industry must face up to its role in this battle. This presents major short- and long-term challenges for the sector. As public understanding – and concerns – surrounding the environmental impact of flying grows every day, it’s up to manufacturers to come up with innovative new solutions that will render air travel sustainable ahead of, and beyond, 2050. Many options for reducing the


carbon emissions of a jet engine are being investigated in response to this. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The first is the electrification of aircraft and use of battery power in some capacity. This is already being explored by the likes of Airbus, which is developing a high-voltage lithium-ion main battery system. However, batteries are not a magic


bullet for the environment. While they reduce emissions, their safe and sustainable disposal continues to pose a challenge and should be taken


into consideration when designing electric or hybrid aircraft. Until a viable, scalable solution to this barrier is produced, a vision of fully electric aircraft solving our Net Zero woes is unlikely. This becomes even more relevant


when we consider that new fuels and more sustainable options for fuelling aircraft are being developed all the time. Aerospace may look to other


industries such as automotive for inspiration, with our recent research finding that 84% of European auto leaders agreed that hydrogen will play a part in helping the industry to reduce its carbon emissions. The industry is more optimistic


about the prospect of alternative options powered by hydrogen fuel cells or synthetic fuels. Again, challenges remain: for example, there are prototypes in place for hydrogen fuel cells, and Airbus is also investing in mature fuel cell propulsion systems for the aviation market. Complications surrounding storage


and accessibility are preventing fast-paced development today. Hydrogen still needs to be extracted from somewhere, which potentially pushes the problem further down the supply chain as this process can be damaging to the environment. What bodes well is the significant investment in the development of technologies and approaches to make hydrogen harvesting more sustainable and efficient, with headway being made all the time. Overall, there is still a long way to


go to enable the creation of aircraft with little or no negative implications for the environment in a short amount of time. However, that is not to say we shouldn’t be excited about the future of aerospace, and as technologies develop and startups race to bring new products to market, the future is incredibly bright. By embracing the right methods, tools and environmental solutions, manufacturers can overcome these challenges and ensure efficiency and sustainability for future success. ●


The EcoPulse undergoing wind tunnel testing. Will AI reduce


reliance on this and other physical techniques? (Neil Phillips/Airbus)


The author is executive vice president global aerospace & defence at Expleo, see https:// expleo.com/global/en/ for more


www.engineerlive.com 13


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