Smarter Skies by 2050

PILT 1010- Air TransportationAnna Darelli

December 6, 2012

Contents• Overview• Future Needs• Eco-climb• Express Skyways• Free-glide approach/landing• Ground Operations• Power• Competition• References

Overview• 5 Concepts• More Flights• Fewer Emissions• Quicker passenger journey times• Enhance environmental performance• Accommodating projected passenger

growth• Emphasis on safety• Significantly different experience in

commercial air transportation

Future Needs• 63% of people worldwide say they will fly more

by 2050• 60% do not think social media will replace the

need to see people face-to-face• 96% believe aircraft will need to be more

sustainable or ‘eco-efficient’• Almost 40% feel air travel is increasingly stressful• 86% of people think less fuel burn is key and

85% a reduction in carbon emissions• 66% want quieter aircraft and 65% planes which

are fully recyclable

Passenger expectations of air travel in the future. Collected between 2010 and 2012.Source: Airbus

Eco-climb• Assisted Takeoff• Would result in: lighter aircrafts, smaller engines, less

fuel• Continuous eco-climb would cut noise and CO2

emissions• Track system (electro-magnetic motors built into track

or inductive circuit with the aircraft)

Picture made to show the possibility of assisted takeoffsSource: Airbus

Express Skyways• 4D navigation

• Formation flight• Fuel burn savings

of 10-12 percent & emissions cut by up to 25 percent

• Sensors (i.e. LIDAR & Infrared) to detect wake vortex

Airbus airplanes demonstrate flying in formationSource: Airbus

Free-glide approach/landing

Current• Descend in stages• Circling in holding

patterns• Leveling off requires

increase in thrust• Extra fuel burn and

emissions• Unnecessary delays for

passengers

Future• Lower emissions• Reduce noise• No need for engine

thrust• Reduce landing speed• Shorter landing

distances• Less runway needed

• Utilize the same renewably-powered system on landing as takeoff, removing need for landing gear.

• Kinetic energy can be captured for future use, i.e. powering on-board systems during taxiing or ground-based propulsion system

Ground Operations• According to IATA, up to six

million tons of CO2 could be saved yearly by reduced engine taxiing

• Technologies that can operate without humans, sensing/navigating around dynamic airport environment

• Electromagnetic currents in tracks & wireless high power

• Aircraft engines could be switched off sooner

• Runways cleared faster• Ground handling emissions could

be cut• Optimize terminal space• Remove runway/gate limitations

Ground OperationsSource: Airbus

Power• Alternative fuels (electricity, hydrogen, solar, and more)• Minimize CO2 emissions• 50/50 blend biofuels already certified for commercial

flights• Airbus is catalyst for sustainable biofuels through

programs to form regional biofuel “value chains” in every continent. Five have already been established.

• Fuel cells are one of the most promising “step change” technologies.

• As hydrogen is combined with oxygen in “cold” combustion, the only by-product is water. This could be used for the aircraft’s water and waste system, saving water, weight, and, in turn, fuel consumption and emissions.

Competiton• Boeing• Rivalry since 1970s• Both companies

use advanced technologies to seek performance advantages in their products

Boeing Company LogoSource: Boeing

References• Airbus. (2012). The future, by Airbus. [ONLINE] Available at:

www.airbus.com/innovation/future-by-airbus/. [Last Accessed 25 November 2012].

• Airbus. (6 September 2012). Airbus unveils its 2050 vision for ‘Smarter Skies’. [PRESS RELEASE]. Available at: www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/airbus-unveils-its-2050-vision-for-smarter-skies/. [Last Accessed 25 November 2012].

• Time. (24 June 2011). Future of Air Travel: Airbus Predicts ‘Transparent’ Airplanes, 9 Billion Customers, by 2050. [ARTICLE]. Available at: www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2079740,00.html. [Last Accessed 25 November 2012].

• Air Transport World. (29 October 2012). Airbus unveils Smarter Skies 2050 vision. [ARTICLE]. Available at: atwoline.com/eco-aviation/article/airbus-unveils-smarter-skies-2050-vision-1028. [Last Accessed 25 November 2012].

• Engadget. (7 September 2012). Airbus imagines ‘smarter skies’ by 2050: reduced emissions and shorter flight times. [ONLINE]. Available at: www.engadget.com/2012/09/07/airbus-smarter-skies-reduced-emssions-shorter-flights/. [Last Accessed 25 November 2012].