COVER STORY
COVER STORY
National and international air transport are part of electrification . This requires a unique approach to decarbonisation , comprising multiple methods
BY TOM SWALLOW
Over the past few years , we ’ ve seen some considerable changes in transportation , and conceptual ideas are coming to life as a result of great electric propulsion triumphs . It began with the transition from fuel to electric , and now air travel is taking a turn to incorporate further means of mobility .
Historically , the bigger the engine the more power and thrust an aircraft has , determining its suitability for short and long-haul flights . As it stands , you would fly light aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean ; likewise an Airbus A380 is unsustainable as an intercity transport mechanism .
Similar principles apply in a sustainable aviation space with organisations looking at new ways to make aircraft that are suitable for specific tasks , and more flexible depending on the application . The ratio of weight to power is the current battle that technicians are facing in every instance , but battery architecture enables a different use of the skies above us . Electrical systems drive aircraft decarbonisation , which in turn is opening up new and intuitive ways to travel .
“THERE ' S GOING TO BE A CROSSOVER POINT , WHEREBY IF YOU FLY LONGER RANGES , YOU ' RE GOING TO NEED HYBRID POWER ”
JIA XU CTO , HONEYWELL UAM AND UAS
eVTOL COULD BE A NATIONAL AVIATION SOLUTION
Take the electric vertical take-off and landing ( eVTOL ) aircraft as an example . With minimal components required by an all-electric system , aircraft engineers are stepping away from a conventional design to utilise a drone-style propeller layout , by creating aircraft that fits into the current culture of flexibility and convenience . However , this isn ’ t without its challenges .
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