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DECEMBER 2021
AEROSPACE
LONG AND THIN
ROUTES
R38 DISASTER –
100 YEARS ON
HAVE ‘COMEDY’ CABIN
SAFETY VIDEOS GOT
OUT OF HAND?
www.aerosociety.com
December 2021
Volume 48 Number 12
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
THE REVOLUTIONARY JAMES WEBB
Royal Aeronautical Society
SPACE TELESCOPE GETS READY TO FINALLY LAUNCH
Roland Berger is helping the aerospace and aviation industries to thrive in the post-COVID era and to achieve a True Zero climate footprint. We are your trusted partner to help solve the most complex, business- critical problems. We propel companies to realise their potential and deliver realistic solutions focusing on Strategy, Sustainability, M&A and Operations. aerospace@rolandberger.com rolandberger.com
Volume 48 Number 12
December 2021
EDITORIAL Contents
Worth the wait Regulars
4 Radome 12 Transmission
Come 22 December, there will be many fingers, toes and other body parts The latest aviation and Your letters, emails, tweets
crossed tightly around the world as the much-delayed NASA James Webb aeronautical intelligence, and social media feedback.
Space Telescope (JWST) gets set to launch from French Guiana atop an Ariane analysis and comment.
54 The Last Word
5 rocket. Originally announced in 1996, the NASA, ESA and Canadian Space 11 Pushing the Envelope Keith Hayward asks whether
Agency partnership JWST was meant to cost $1bn and launch in 2007 but Rob Coppinger looks at the rise in space tourism
has seen its cost balloon to $9.7bn and its launch date slip to this year. That how GPS jamming can be is the best use of space
countered by navigating science to reduce costs and
said, its capabilities promise a treasure-trove of science that will revolutionise using visual odometry. environmental impacts.
our understanding of the Universe, peering further back in cosmic time and in
greater resolution than ever before. Once operational, JWST will be 100 times Features
more powerful than the Hubble space telescope and promises to open up yet
22
Bill Read/RAeS
Korean Air
more frontiers. Yet while JWST has been waiting to launch, space technology has 14
moved on and it may be that the era of super-expensive giant space probes is
coming to an end. In the future, in-orbit manufacturing will allow giant antennas
and apertures to be built in space, freeing them from the constraints of surviving
the G and vibration of a rocket launch, as well as needing to be folded inside a Detracting from life-saving
messages?
fairing. After launch, the most hazardous part of JWST’s mission will be the two Is the trend for making
Testing sustainable
weeks of unfolding origami-like into its deployed configuration. Second, is that technology flight safety briefings more
SpaceX’s giant Starship rocket is on the horizon which not only promises heavy- Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator entertaining for passengers
programme is aiming to undermining their safety
lift to LEO with radically reduced kg-to-orbit costs but in-orbit refuelling and a message?
improve the environmental
cadence of flights that seem like science fiction. With these capabilities, Starship efficiency of aircraft and
has the potential to turn the harsh equation of expensive, infrequent science airlines. 26 Safety first
Making the case for investing
missions on its head, allowing for humans to flood the Solar System with cheap, in airline safety in the
18 Good neighbours
disposable probes built and launched en masse. JWST then, represents not only GKN Aerospace opens a new boardroom.
a landmark in space science missions but perhaps represents the high water Global Technology Centre in
mark of multibillion-dollar space probes, that could well give way to a new era of Filton. 28
Wendy Pritchard
lower-cost nanosatellites that could explore every corner of the Solar System. Airbus
Tim Robinson FRAeS, Editor-in-Chief 20
tim.robinson@aerosociety.com @RAeSTimR
The R38 disaster – 100
years on
Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: publications@aerosociety.com
An RAeS historical lecture on
Together in electric and the loss of the R38 airship over
Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office 2021 AEROSPACE subscription the Humber in August 1921.
Tim Robinson FRAeS Royal Aeronautical Society rates: Non-members, £190 hydrogen dreams
+44 (0)20 7670 4353 No.4 Hamilton Place To place your order, contact: The UK government’s
tim.robinson@aerosociety.com London W1J 7BQ, UK Wayne J Davis transport decarbonisation plan 32 Going the distance
Deputy Editor
+44 (0)20 7670 4300 +44 (0)20 7670 4354 and its possible impact upon The future prospects of low-
publications@aerosociety.com aerosubs@aerosociety.com cost long-haul point-to-point
Bill Read FRAeS traditional aerospace supply
+44 (0)20 7670 4351 www.aerosociety.com Any member not requiring a print chains. travel.
bill.read@aerosociety.com AEROSPACE is published by the Royal version of this magazine should
Aeronautical Society (RAeS). contact: membership@aerosociety.com
Production Manager
Wayne J Davis FRAeS
+44 (0)20 7670 4354
Chief Executive
David Edwards FRAeS
USA: Periodical postage paid at
Champlain New York and additional
Afterburner
wayne.davis@aerosociety.com Advertising offices. 38 Message from our President
+44 (0)20 7670 4346 Postmaster: Send address changes 39 Message from our Chief Executive
Publications Executive
partners@aerosociety.com to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518,
Chris Male FRAeS
+44 (0)20 7670 4352 Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. 40 Book Reviews
Unless specifically attributed, no
chris.male@aerosociety.com material in AEROSPACE shall be taken 43 Library Additions
ISSN 2052-451X
Production Executive to represent the opinion of the RAeS.
44 Obituaries
Annabel Hallam Reproduction of material used in this
+44 (0)20 7670 4361 publication is not permitted without the 46 2021 Branches Conference
annabel.hallam@aerosociety.com written consent of the Editor-in-Chief.
48 Formula Flight takes off
Book Review Editors Printed by Buxton Press Limited,
Tony Pilmer and Katrina Sudell Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire 50 New Member Spotlight
book.reviews@aerosociety.com SK17 6AE, UK
51 RAeS Diary
Cover: James Webb Space Telescope
.(NASA) Distributed by Royal Mail 52 Elections
Additional content is available to view online at: aerosociety.com/aerospaceinsight
Including: Four news reports from the 2021 Dubai Air Show, Challenges to Gulf mega-carriers, The
Read AEROSPACE and the Insight blog on your
R38 airship disaster – 100 years on, ATR celebrates 40th anniversary, Boeing charts a greener flight smartphone or tablet with the AEROSPACE app
Online path, The UK’s FlyZero project, Rolls-Royce races to set new electric aircraft speed record. APP available from iTunes and Google Play.
@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2021 13
Blueprint
INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT
Open the pod
bay doors...
Another partner, Genesis
Engineering Solutions, will
develop the Single Person
Spacecraft, allowing astronauts
and space tourists to carry
Orbital Reef
out EVAs in a shirt-sleeve
environment.
Growth
potential
Artist’s rendering
of Orbital Reef
showing three core
modules with large
windows, as well
as six additional
modules, including
inflatable ones. In
its fully built-up
configuration it will
contain 90% of the
living space of the
ISS.
Orbital Reef
4 AEROSPACE
Accessing the station
Transport to and from Orbital Reef would be provided by Boeing’s CST-100
Starliner crew capsule or potentially by Sierra Space’s Dreamchaser reusable
spaceplane. An orbital inclination of 51.6° to the equator at 500km will take it
over launch sites in the US, Kazakhstan, India and South America.
SPACEFLIGHT
Orbital Reef in LEO
Blue Origin, Boeing, Redwire Space and Sierra Space have announced plans for a private
space station, Orbital Reef. Orbital Reef would act as a commercial business park in low
Earth orbit (LEO) and is planned to be operational by the end of the decade. The station
would be able to host up to ten astronauts at one time, to conduct microgravity research,
filming or as a space hotel. The outpost will be constructed using Blue Origin’s New
Glenn rocket launches, with crews flown to the station using Boeing Starliner capsules or
potentially Sierra Space’s Dreamchaser spacecraft.
DECEMBER 2021 5
Radome
COVID-19
AIR TRANSPORT AEROSPACE
Transatlantic flights restart Eurocontrol pushes for
charges rethink
British Airways
A new think paper massive revenue shortfall
from European ATM for European ANSP
provider Eurocontrol (air navigation service
has highlighted providers) which will
the challenges and reach €8.6bn by the end
vulnerability of the of the year, with annual
European Route Charges income from airlines
System which has faced falling from around €8bn
significant pressure to just €3.2bn. This will
during the pandemic. have to be passed on
Grounded flights and no to airlines in the form of
traffic due to Covid-19 higher charges in the
meant that the ‘User coming years, says the
Pays’ model caused a paper.
AIR TRANSPORT
ACI sees faster recovery
but full return in 2025
Airports group ACI Europe group estimates that a full
has released an updated recovery will not occur until
outlook on the recovery 2025. The group also said
of passenger air traffic in that Europe’s airports lost
Europe, with the recovery 1.26billion passengers
gathering pace thanks to in 2021, a decrease of
On 8 November, the US reopened its borders to fully vaccinated passengers from an easing of pandemic -62% compared to 2019
Europe after a 20-month ban. The reopening saw British Airways flight BA001 and travel restrictions. It but volumes were up
Virgin Atlantic flight VS3, both using Airbus A350s, perform a unique synchronised forecasts passenger air 70% compared to 2020.
parallel take-off from London Heathrow to New York JFK to mark the end of more than travel improving from Worst affected during
600 days of pandemic travel restrictions. The long-awaited reopening of transatlantic an estimated -60% the summer season were
flights between the US and Europe represents a huge boost to the airline industry this year compared to airports in the UK (-71%),
with the US accounting for 40% of BA’s business. Pre-pandemic, in 2019, 22million 2019 volumes, to -32% Ireland (-68%) and Finland
passengers and 900,000t of freight flew between the UK and US. in 2022. However, the (-78%).
NEWS IN BRIEF
propulsion but also at after sole shareholder carrier. The cause of launched from Rocket
ZeroAvia has announced a retrofitting existing airliners. South African Airways the accident, which Lab’s spaceport at Mãhia
partnership with Mitsubishi In addition, ZeroAvia has decided that the airline is happened shortly after Peninsula on North Island
Heavy Industries RJ entered a partnership no longer viable. Mango take-off from the carrier aboard an Electron rocket,
Aviation Group (MHIRJ) with Alaskan Air Group, ceased operations in mid on 17 November, is the first stage carbon-fibre
to collaborate on zero- parent group of Alaska 2021 after being unable to not yet known but the booster of which was later
carbon hydrogen-electric Airlines, to incorporate a pay money owed to South MoD has stated that the recovered from the Pacific
propulsion for regional 3MW hydrogen-electric Africa’s Air Traffic and pilot ejected safely. The Ocean.
jets. MHIRJ is the world’s powertrain into a de Navigation Services. accident is the first loss
largest CRJ MRO and Havilland Canada DHC of a UK F-35B. Otto Aviation has
support company, having Q400 turboprop to give it A UK Lockheed completed testing of its
acquired the CRJ regional a range of 500nm. Martin F-35B fighter New Zealand-based enhanced laminar flow
airliner programme has crashed into the Rocket Lab launched two Celera 500L. The aircraft
from Bombardier. The Grounded South African Mediterranean Sea small BlackSky optical has now concluded 55
partnership will not only low-cost carrier Mango while flying on a routine Earth-imaging satellites tests flights with a total
look at new aircraft Airlines is now not operation from the HMS into orbit on 17 November. flight time of 51hr. Otto
with hydrogen-electric expected to return to flight Queen Elizabeth aircraft The satellites were is now seeking further
6 AEROSPACE
DEFENCE AEROSPACE
UK seeks new private
Embraer
aggressors
With the retirement of the Training (ORT) aerial support
Hawk T1/T1A training service tender, issued on
aircraft now brought forward 29 October, includes a
from 2030 to 2022, the requirement for air-to-air,
UK Ministry of Defence is target, threat simulation,
seeking a new contractor- and mission augmentation Embraer reveals
based aviation training
service from the third quarter
training.
Meanwhile, Affinity
net zero family
of 2022, following the Flying Training Services Embraer has revealed a new family of four sustainable concept aircraft to reach its target
collapse of the Air Support to has been awarded a £65m of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Each aircraft is fitted with a different
Defence Operational Training 12-year contract from the propulsion system and fuel type, comprising the nine-seat hybrid electric Energia Hybrid
(ASDOT) programme. Valued UK MoD for four additional E9-HE to be ready by 2030, the nine-seat battery-powered Energia Electric E9-FE and
at around £100m, the MoD’s Textron Texan T-6C basic the 19-seat hydrogen-powered H2 Fuel Cell Energia – both to be ready in 2035 – and
new medium to fast speed trainers to boost throughput the 35-50 seat H2 Gas Turbine Energia hydrogen or JetA/SAF turbine aircraft which is
Operational Readiness of pilots at MFTS. scheduled to be ready in 2040.
SPACEFLIGHT GENERAL AVIATION
Russian ASAT tests threatens ISS Organiser of Emiliano Sala
crash flight found guilty
AGI
The organiser of a ‘grey’ which was flying Sala
charter flight in which from Nantes, France, to
footballer Emiliano Sala Cardiff in a night flight,
and pilot David Ibbotson David Henderson, had
were killed in a crash previously admitted
in January 2019 in the to trying to arrange a
English Channel off the passenger flight without
coast of Guernsey, has permission. The jury
been found guilty of also heard how the pilot,
Russia has been the subject of widespread international condemnation after conducting ‘endangering the safety Ibbotson, did not hold
an anti-satellite test which created over 1,500 trackable pieces of space debris. The test of an aircraft’ and jailed a commercial pilot’s
involved using a ground-based missile to hit a decommissioned Kosmos 1408 military for 18 months by Cardiff licence, IFR, or current
satellite on 15 November. Astronauts aboard the ISS, which passes near the debris cloud Crown Court. The rating on the Piper
every 90 minutes, closed off parts of the ISS as a precaution for two days following the test. organiser of the flight, Malibu.
funding to achieve FAA of its new indigenous on 8 November aboard operates 25 rotary-wing
certification. UAE mega-carrier AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle a SpaceX Dragon crew bases and nine fixed-
Emirates is to accelerate advanced trainer. capsule. NASA commander wing bases across the
The Royal Air Force has a recruitment drive for The twin-seat aircraft, Shane Kimbrough, pilot Pacific Northwest and
entered the Guinness pilots and engineers developed from the Megan McArthur, Japanese Intermountain West
World Records by as the post-pandemic F-CK-1 Ching-Kuo astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, regions of the US.
conducting the first-ever recovery in air travel fighter, took to the and ESA astronaut Thomas
flight of an aircraft, an continues. The airline skies on 21 October, Pesquet descended US corporate giant GE
Ikarus C42 microlight, is planning to recruit a accompanied by a T-5 to Earth and made a has announced it will split
powered by zero-carbon further 6,000 staff over prototype. Taiwan plans successful splashdown in itself up into three public
fully sythnetic fuel. The the next six months, with to acquire 66 T-5s by the Gulf of Mexico. companies, focusing
fuel, Zero Petroleum’s 2,500 of them being 2026 which will replace on aviation, healthcare
UL91, was made using pilots and engineers. the AT-3 and F-5E/F US not-for-profit air and power. GE Aviation
hydrogen extracted trainers. medical transport operator will form the core of the
from water and carbon On 21 October, Taiwan Life Flight Network has independent aerospace
extract from CO2 in the conducted the first Four astronauts returned ordered 12 Bell 407GXi concern with the separation
atmosphere. production version flight to Earth from the ISS helicopters. The Network completed by 2024.
DECEMBER 2021 7
Radome
FIRST NEWS FROM DAS21
AEROSPACE DEFENCE
Airbus launches A350F freighter Checkmate sniffs out
international interest
Airbus
Revealed earlier this prototypes are now
year at the MAKS under construction at the
exhibition in Moscow and Komsomolsk-on-Amur
making its international factory in Siberia. The
debut at the Dubai Air company also revealed
Show was Sukhoi’s that an uncrewed UCAV
Su-75 ‘Checkmate’ fifth- version of the Su-75 was
The show saw Airbus launch a new member of the A350 family, the A350F cargo variant generation single-engine also under development.
with orders for seven A350Fs from Air Lease Corp and four from CMA CGM Group. The stealth fighter mock-up, Aimed at the export
airframer ended the week with 408 potential aircraft orders (269 firm orders plus 139 which was displayed market, Russia’s Rostec
commitments), the largest of which was for 255 A321neo family aircraft from equity firm along with weapons in said that the company had
Indigo Partners which was distributed among its partner airlines Wizz Air (75 A321neos its own pavilion. At the held talks with the UAE
and 27 A321XLRs), Frontier (91 A321neos), Volaris (39 A321neos) and JetSMART (21 show, Sukhoi parent about co-production and
A321neos and two A321XLRx). Airbus Defence also received orders for two A330MRTTs group UAC revealed that supplying systems for the
from the UAE Air Force, plus two A400Ms for the Indonesian MoD. the first few Checkmate stealth fighter.
AIR TRANSPORT DEFENCE
Boeing shows off 777X, ‘21st Century Skyraider’ unveiled
racks up freighter orders
This year’s Dubai Air UAE-based Sky One and
Show also saw the two 777Fs from Emirates.
international air show At the show, Boeing also
debut of Boeing’s newest announced that its MRO
widebody, the 777X, facility in Gatwick, UK, will
which took part in the be the company’s newest
flying display. Boeing passenger-to-freighter
RAeS
ended the show with 101 line, converting 737s to
orders, including 72 737 cargo aircraft. The first Making its debut in mock-up form at the Dubai Air Show was the Calidus B-350, a
MAXs for Indian airline aircraft through the facility two-seat, single-turboprop light attack/ISR aircraft with 13 hardpoints for weapons. The
Akasa Air. Among other will be a 737-800 for aircraft is larger than the previous Calidus B-250 COIN design and contemporaries,
Boeing orders were four Icelease, which placed an such as the Super Tucano, with a wingspan of 50ft and a MTOW of 20,000lb. The
aircraft from Air Tanzania, order for 11 737BCFs at aircraft will be powered by a 2,600shp P&WC PW127 turboprop.
three 777-300s from the show. FULL DAS21 REPORT IN JANUARY AEROSPACE
NEWS IN BRIEF
fighters to Cairo in a to conduct critical Hybrid Electric Propulsion followed by two in 2024
The Lufthansa Group has €3.8bn contract. This will research, support off- Architecture (MAHEPA) and all four in 2026.
announced a return to bring Egypt’s total Rafale planet industrial activity project.
profits in Q3 2021, with a fleet up from 24 to 54 and ensure a continued Kenya Airports Authority
profit of €17m compared aircraft. US presence in LEO Wright Electric has (KAA) is to auction off 73
to a loss of €1.3bn for the after the retirement of launched the Wright derelict aircraft which have
same period last year. The US space company the ISS. Spirit – a 100-seat, been abandoned at four
airline group reports that Nanoracks has electric-powered of its airports. In August
bookings have returned announced a partnership GA manufacturer Pipistrel regional aircraft. Based 2020, KAA contacted the
to 80% of their pre- with Lockheed Martin has completed the first on the BAe 146 regional owners of the abandoned
pandemic levels. to develop a private flight testing phase jet, the Wright Spirit will aircraft to settle accounts
commercial crewed of the hybrid-electric be equipped with four and request their removal.
Dassault has announced space station to orbit the version of its four-seat engines. Flight testing The aircraft types for sale
that a defence deal with Earth. To enter service Panthera. The powertrain will begin in 2023 include Ukrainian An-24s,
Egypt signed earlier this in 2027, the Starlab and flight performance replacing first one jet a Boeing 737-200, DC-
year has come into force, commercial space lab will tests were conducted engine with a high- 3s, a DC-8 and DC-9s
with the company to be continuously crewed as part of Europe’s power density inverter and a 707-300 (the
supply a further 30 Rafale by up to four astronauts Modular Approach to with a 2,700hp motor, bidding price for the 707
8 AEROSPACE
AIR TRANSPORT DEFENCE
easyJet and Ryanair trial Two-seat J-20 breaks cover in
low-carbon turnarounds China
Chinese Internet
A joint trial between Meanwhile, rival Ryanair
easyJet and Bristol has invested €7.3m in
Airport has demonstrated electric ground handling
a 97% reduction in at 11 airports around
CO2 emissions during Europe, partnering with
aircraft turnarounds.The Menzies Aviation at
demonstration, set to Amsterdam Schiphol,
run for six months, saw Gothenburg-Landvetter,
diesel-powered vehicles and Oslo Airport, along Photographs on social media have confirmed that China has developed a rumoured
and ground support with Azul Handling at two-seat variant of its J-20 stealth fighter. The aircraft was spotted during taxi tests at
equipment, such as Alicante, Barcelona, Chengdu’s Aerospace Plant, confirming long-running speculation about a new variant of
steps, baggage trollies Madrid, Malaga, Mallorca, the fighter. The twin-seat J-20 is the first two-seat stealth fighter in the world, with other
and loaders replaced Seville, Santiago and aircraft (F-22, F-35 and Su-57) all being single-seat. This may indicate a training role or
by electric equipment. Valencia airports. as a specialised two-seat strike or ‘loyal wingman’ command fighter.
AEROSPACE SPACEFLIGHT
Rolls-Royce Return to Moon schedule
Rolls-Royce
smashes electric slips
speed records NASA has announced spacesuits for the lunar
that its Artemis surface meant that the
programme to return earliest date for a human
humans to the Moon for landing will be 2025. In
the first time in over 50 addition, a legal challenge
years will now not meet by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin
the goal of a landing in over awarding the landing
2024 set by the previous contract to SpaceX also
Rolls-Royce has announced that it believes ‘Spirit of Innovation’ has broken the world Trump administration. A delayed progress. While
speed record for an electric-powered aircraft – with the racer reaching a top speed of combination of funding the SLS rocket is set to
387.4mph in runs at Boscombe Down, UK, on 16 November. The claims, to be verified shortfalls for the landing make its first flight in early
by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), saw the aircraft break three existing system and Orion 2022, the first crewed
electric flight records, with a recorded speed of 345.4mph over 3km, 330mph over 15km capsule, as well as the flight of Artemis will be a
and a climb to 3,000m in 202seconds. need to develop new circumlunar flyby in 2024.
begins at $2,497). Auction
Correction
winners will have seven UK communications In the September edition of
AEROSPACE in the article
ON THE MOVE
days to collect their aircraft. satellite operator Inmarsat ‘The Air Force of 2040’ we
has agreed a $7.3bn used an image of USAF Chief Etihad Airways has Javier Marin, MD, Airports
Kratos and General takeover by US-based General Charles Q Brown announced the and Executive Member of
Atomics Aeronautical Viasat. The deal may be Jr, with a caption incorrectly appointment of Dr Nadia the Board of Directors at
stating that it was former
Systems (GA-ASI) are reviewed under the UK’s Bastaki as its Chief Human Aena has been elected
NASA administrator, Charles
each to design and National Security and Bolden. We apologise for any Resources, Organisational as President of Airports
develop a new Off-Board Investment Act 2021, confusion caused. Development and Asset Council International (ACI)
Sensing Station (OBSS) brought in to protect key Management Officer, who Europe.
demonstrator drone for the British interests from The Junkers A50 Junior will become the first female
US Air Force in 12 month foreign takeovers. Replica, developed by executive at Etihad. Salem Butti Salem Al
design and development Junkers Flugzeugwerke Qubaisi has been named
contracts. OBSS will A 1929 Junkers AG, retains the corrugated Jet Aviation has appointed as the new D-G of the
act as an attritable ‘loyal monoplane is to return as metal skin look of the Jeremie Caillet as Senior UAE national space
wingman’ and extra a 600kg microlight replica, original but uses a Rotax VP Regional Operations agency to replace Dr
weapons bay for crewed with first deliveries to engine and Garmin Europe, Middle East and Mohammed Nasser Al
aircraft. begin in April 2022. instruments. Africa. Ahbabi.
DECEMBER 2021 9
By the Numbers
Understanding the world of Aerospace through data
The James Webb Space Telescope – A Comparison
NASA
10 AEROSPACEPushing the Envelope
Exploring advances on the leading edge of aerospace
Robert Coppinger
Navigating the future
F
inding your way around using satellite- with a regional 3D surface model database carried
based navigation is such an essential by the aircraft’s avionics. In future, the system could
feature of daily life that people forget the operate at night with infrared (IR) sensors comparing
days of paper maps and map books spread what they see with an IR database. In a way it is a
out over the car dashboard or ground. combination of that original pilotage, knowing the
For civil aviation the days of pilots’ pilotage, landscape, and motion-related technologies.
navigating by landmarks and dead reckoning, using The 3D map is used in combination with INS
speed estimates and heading information, were data and visual odometry, which estimates how much
replaced first by radio navigation, using radio beacons, the camera, and therefore the aircraft, has moved
and then inertial navigation systems (INS). In 1978, between two images. From this, velocity and relative
the first four United States government global movement can be calculated. Clouds can disrupt
positioning system (GPS) satellites were launched this terrain vision, map comparison system, but
and, in 1983, then US President Ronald Reagan Saab found that the navigation accuracy returned
authorised the GPS signal for civilian commercial immediately once the clouds were avoided. Terrain
airlines. radar could be used to see through clouds but, in
In the 38 years since Reagan’s decision to make contested airspace, emitting a detectable radar signal
Navstar, the true name of the US GPS service, could be unwise. Lidar, laser radar, is problematic for
available for civil aviation, its signals have been added the same reason. With the 3D map, INS data and
to by Russia’s GLONASS, European Union’s Galileo visual odometry, the algorithms generate a more
and China’s BeiDou system. Public signals for the accurate velocity vector and assist the INS to deliver
latter were available in Asia in 2012. Navstar is a the GPS denied navigation capability.
military service and the origins of GPS were to serve
the needs of the US armed forces. The effectiveness Navigation without GPS
of GPS for munition accuracy was witnessed in 1991
during the Gulf War. The idea of navigation without GPS has also been
the subject of university research for civil applications.
Jamming The universities of Manchester and Bristol’s Project
Agile uses a micro aerial vehicle (MAV). What is
Technology to jam satellites’ navigation signals or common between the Saab system and Project Agile
spoof them, to give an incorrect position, emerged is the use of visual odometry. The MAV has a vision-
at arms’ fairs a few years after the first Gulf War. based navigation system where the computer has a
In 2003, Russian GPS jamming equipment was processor for each of the camera image’s pixels and
employed by Iraqi forces. In 2018, Finnish Prime the processors work in parallel. It can analyse the
Minister, Juha Sipilä, said NATO training in Finland’s scene for that change between images to calculate
northern airspace had been disrupted by GPS relative movement. This processing allows everything
jamming which he suspected was the work of the to be done by the MAV’s avionics, no information is
Russian military. sent elsewhere – no signal can be jammed.
Solutions to GPS jamming and spoofing have The Project Agile MAV can also remember where
been in development for various governments’ it has been and so that scene will not be processed
militaries for decades. In October this year, Saab making the visual navigation more computationally THE IDEA OF
announced it will offer a ‘navigation in GPS-denied efficient. Project Agile MAV’s visual system can also NAVIGATION
environments’ capability as part of its Gripen fast jet track moving vehicles. The Project Agile researchers WITHOUT GPS
offer for Finland’s HX requirement. That country is see applications in infrastructure monitoring. HAS ALSO BEEN
seeking a replacement fighter aircraft for its Boeing Forty years after the first deployment of a satellite
THE SUBJECT
F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet. In 2020, Saab completed navigation system, the future of navigation could be
Gripen E flight tests using new algorithms for a combination of the new and the old. Perhaps the
OF UNIVERSITY
real-time and accurate positioning based on image next step for vision-based systems is the addition of RESEARCH
mapping, known as 3D-mapping. Data from the celestial navigation and an electronic version of the FOR CIVIL
aircraft’s passive electro-optical sensors is compared sextant developed in the 18th Century. APPLICATIONS
DECEMBER 2021 11o
Transmission
LETTERS AND ONLINE @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com
f
NAL Library Lifetime Achievements Project Altitude
On 11-12 November the
RAeS Careers Department
hosted a Project Altitude
events programme for
secondary school students at
WMG Academy in Coventry.
Supported by Boeing, the
two-day event included a
Geoffrey Wardle [On Brian series of careers talks from
Riddle and Mike Stanbury RAeS members and partners
Lifetime Achievement awards] including Boeing, Airbus, Flight
Congratulations! Crowd and BAE Systems, as
Former Chief Librarian of the RAeS National Aerospace well as hosting a hands-on
Vidyasagar Kotha Library (NAL), Brian Riddle, and dedicated NAL volunteer glider challenge.
Congratulations! Mike Stanberry have been announced as winners of Lifetime
Achievement Certificates at the Aviation Heritage UK Awards
2021. Nominated by AHUK members, winners were announced
Breaking Boundaries lecture
Ian H I can’t believe how good
the building looks compared to at the 213th members’ meeting at RAF Museum Cosford and
when I worked in it in the mid certificates were presented by Maggie Appleton, CEO of the RAF
‘90s. Almost unrecognisable. Museum.
Remembrance Sunday f New Safran Green Room at 4HP
Tim Robinson/RAeS
The Society’s Publications Dept Production Manager, Wayne J
Davis, spoke at the racial inclusion and diversity gala, Breaking
Boundaries 2021, last month. The series of four lectures focused
on how the inclusion of racial and ethnic diversity within the
aerospace/defence industry can be improved. It was hosted at
Robert Scott [On
the Bristol Aerospace Museum, Bristol, and jointly sponsored by
Remembrance Sunday]
Airbus, MBDA and Atkins.
Proud to be a member of the
Society and see it reminding
us all of the importance of From the RAeS photo archives
remembering the fallen who
gave their lives so that we
RAeS/NAL
could enjoy ours. Never forget.
i
Safran UK National Executive Nigel Woodford opened the new
Safran Green Room at RAeS HQ at No.4 Hamilton Place with
RAeS CEO David Edwards and Marie de Saint-Cheron, Director
of European and Multilateral Affairs, Safran.
Jean Marcel Peyruquet Simon Henley I had the
Congratulations Nigel. privilege of using the room
yesterday – didn’t realise at
Graham Adlam Looking the time just how privileged I
good Nigel. was! Thank you Safran.
UK defence spending
Simon Luxmoore Excellent Gisela Bonnaud Brilliant!
Doug Greenwell [On the Nigel. Concorde 101, G-AXDN, makes its maiden flight from Filton
Congrats Safran, Dave,
effect on the defence budget on 17 December 1971, the first flight of a pre-production
Royal Aeronautical Society!
of the latest UK Budget and Sylvie Langlois What an Concorde. It was retired to the Imperial War Museum Duxford,
Our RAeS Toulouse Branch
Spending Review(1)] Worrying achievement! Congratulations. UK, where it landed on 20 August 1977, having made 269
is happy to support Safran
– how will this impact the flights (632 hours), of which 168 flights were supersonic.
Group in France!
Tempest project?
12 AEROSPACEPicture an aeronautical zero-carbon future
Ashley Lovett
What will 2050 look like? This is Engineering has reimagined John Constable’s 1816 painting The Wheat Field in a zero-carbon future. Created by artist Ashley
Lovett and the Museum of Engineering Innovation and entitled The Wheat Field 2050, the revised painting shows solar-powered farming robots on the ground,
together with agricultural drones and hydrogen-powered aircraft in the air. Also featured in the painting are bison reintroduced into the wild, regrown woodland
and hedgerows, diverse crops, and tent-shaped buildings designed to regulate internal temperature(2).
i RAeS at Aeronautical Engineering finals Black History Month podcast
Dave Edwards [On
Aeronautical Engineering
Mechanical category finals]
Really great day seeing the
cool, calm and collected
way the finalists rose to the
challenge! Look forward to
hearing the results – good A new RAeS podcast is known stories of achievement
luck all and thanks for the available which celebrates and by people of colour within
warm welcome! acknowledge the contribution Britain’s military forces and
of Black British Aviators to how they may inspire the black
UK aerospace. Wayne J Davis and brown people of today’s
Simon Henley speaks to film-maker, writer, UK.
Congratulations to everyone actor, and social commentator, It is available on the
involved – you’re all winners in Andrew Rajan, and together ‘Aerosociety podcast’ feed on
my eyes! In November, the RAeS was the Competition Organising Partner they look at some of the little- Soundcloud(3).
for the WorldSkills UK Aeronautical Engineering: Mechanical
category finals at HMS Sultan, supported by Leonardo. RAeS
CEO David Edwards is seen here visiting the finalists. The
winners were announced on 26 November.
1. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/was-defence-the-big-loser-in-the-budget/
2. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/FgWRsEOj0UGA-Q/
3. https://soundcloud.com/aerosociety-podcast/black-history-month-podcast-to-be-published-final?si=623e81b8ed424a20a721babfc93c28e4
@aerosociety i linkedin.com/raes f facebook.com/raes www.aerosociety.com DECEMBER 2021 13AEROSPACE
Boeing ecoDemonstrator testbed
Testing
sustainable
technology
BILL READ FRAeS reports from Glasgow on how
Boeing is researching new technologies to improve
the environmental efficiency of aircraft and airlines
through its ecoDemonstrator programme, which in
2021 is partnered with Alaska Airlines.
I
n October, Boeing brought its latest
ecoDemonstrator aircraft over to Glasgow,
the Scottish city where the UK hosted the
UN COP26 international climate change
conference in November. AEROSPACE was
invited to tour the aircraft while it was at Glasgow
Airport.
Boeing has been running its ecoDemonstrator
programme for a number of years. Beginning in
2012, Boeing has used eight aircraft as flying test
beds to trial a wide variety of different technologies
and test them in the air to see if they have
potential to be developed into solutions to improve
aircraft and airline efficiency, enhance passenger
experience and reduce the impact of aviation on
the environment. These have included technologies
that reduce fuel use, emissions and noise, as well
as incorporating more sustainable materials. Other
projects have focused on cabin amenities, such as
smart galleys, seats and lavatories that increase
airline reliability and the efficiency of fleets and
crews.
The ecoDemonstrator programme is run by a
small team of engineers and specialists working
within the Boeing Commercial Airplanes’ Product
Development division. The team is augmented by
engineers and researchers from Boeing, together
with airlines, suppliers and academia. The team has
the motto ‘innovate, collaborate, accelerate’ with
the aim of supporting one another to use the test
platform to advance innovation for aviation and the
constant evolution of new ideas.
The aircraft and technologies used for the
first seven EcoDemonstrator programmes are
summarised as follows:
14 AEROSPACE2012: 737-800NG (delivered to American
Airlines)
14 projects, including:
● Aerodynamic performance of the 737 MAX
advanced technology winglet
● Variable area fan nozzle to optimise engine
efficiency
● Active engine vibration control
● Regenerative hydrogen fuel cell for aircraft
electrical power
● Flight path optimisation for operational
efficiency
● Carpets made from recycled materials
● Flying on a blend of sustainable aviation fuel
2014: 787-8 Dreamliner (owned by Boeing)
35 projects, including:
● Aerodynamic and flight control improvements
● Advanced wing coatings to reduce ice
accumulation
● S oftware applications and connectivity
technologies to improve flight planning, fuel-
load optimisation, in-flight routing and landing
● Airborne Spacing for Terminal Arrival Routes
(ASTAR) system to help achieve precise
spacing between aircraft during approaches
● Touch-screen displays on the flight deck
● Wireless sensors to reduce wiring weight
● Outer wing access doors made from recycled
787 carbon fibre
● First flight using renewable diesel
2015: 757 (owned by the aircraft finance division
of Stifel)
20 projects, including:
● Robust wing designs to enable natural laminar
flow and improve aerodynamic efficiency,
including Krueger shield to protect the leading
edge of the wing from insects, ‘bug-phobic’
coatings that can reduce drag from insect
residue and active flow control to improve
airflow over the rudder
● Flight using 5% blend of renewable diesel
This aircraft was subsequently dismantled with
around 90% being reused or recycled.
2016: E170 (owned by Embraer)
Six projects, including:
● Ice-phobic paint to reduce drag
● Wireless measurement of airflow over the
surface of the wing
DECEMBER 2021 15AEROSPACE
Boeing ecoDemonstrator testbed
Boeing
● Wing slat cove fillers to reduce noise Above from left to right: 2019: 777-200 (owned by Boeing)
ecoDemonstrator Chief
● Air data measurement system using light 53 projects, including:
Engineer, Rae Lutters,
distancing and ranging (LiDAR) gives a tour of the
● Small vertical ‘vortex generator’ vanes formed
● Flown used SAF sourced from Brazilian aircraft; Test equipment
aboard the 737 MAX from shape memory alloys extended on take-off
sugarcane
ecoDemonstrator; iPad and landing to improve aerodynamic efficiency
2018: 777 Freighter (owned by FedEx Express) apps developed from but retracted during flight
37 projects, including: previous ecoDemonstrator ● Electronic flight bag application to automatically
projects provide weather
● Surface Operations Collision Awareness information to pilots to
reroute an aircraft to avoid bad weather
System (SOCAS) which uses optical and radar improve fuel efficiency and conditions
sensors to detect obstacles on the ground reduce emissions. ● Operational efficiency project to enable pilots,
● FLYHT Aerospace Solutions’ Automated All images unless stated: Bill Read/ air traffic controllers and an airline’s operations
RAeS
Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) centre to share digital information to optimise
provides tracking, distress and data-streaming routing
capabilities from flightdata recorders ● Self-disinfecting lavatory using ultraviolet light to
● World’s first commercial airliner flight flown on disinfect all surfaces
100% sustainable fuel ● Galleys equipped with sensors to help cabin
● Manufacturing by-products reused as fittings crews locate catering items faster and enable
replacing titanium alloy (Ti64) with over 75% airlines to better manage inventories using data
recycled content analytics
● A laser system to detect clear air turbulence ● Organic LED displays in the ceiling and on a
cabin divider to inform and entertain passengers
2020: 787-10 (owned by Etihad Airways)
Nine projects, including:
● Landing gear modified to be quieter by Safran
Landing Systems
● Another operational efficiency project
● Portable ultraviolet wand to disinfect high-touch
and hard to clean surfaces, including flight deck
control panels
Boeing Commercial Aircraft now incorporate
technologies which were evaluated and proven on
the ecoDemonstrator programme, including more
aerodynamically efficient winglets on the 737 MAX,
iPad apps that provide real-time weather and other
information to pilots to help improve fuel efficiency
and reduce emissions, customised landing approach
path information to lower noise and flight deck
touch-screen displays and a camera system on the
777X to help pilots avoid ground obstacles.
16 AEROSPACEThe 2021 programme the experimental additions removed before joining
the airline’s fleet in 2022.
After announcing its partnership with Alaska Although the ecoDemonstrator looks like
Airlines in June 2021, Boeing began testing the a conventional passenger jet from the outside,
latest ecoDemonstrator in August. The aircraft the aircraft incorporates design lessons learned
flew from Boeing Field in Seattle to Glasgow on from previous projects and features split scimitar
3-4 October. The eight-hour flight across the winglets on the wing tips. The interior of the cabin
Atlantic was fuelled by a 50/50 blend of paraffin is fitted with basic seats while the front of the
SAF. fuselage is equipped with test and monitoring
The choice of Glasgow as the destination equipment.
airport was no coincidence. Not only was Glasgow Not all the different technologies are being
set to host the UN COP26 summit but Boeing tested at the same time but among the 2021
has strong links with Scotland, having established projects include:
the ‘Boeing Scotland Alliance’ in March 2020 ● The cabin interior sidewalls are made from
which created 200 supply chain jobs plus major recycled carbon composite fibre created from
investment into research and development waste from the 777X production line. The
projects. programme’s Chief Engineer, Rae Lutters,
The eighth ecoDemonstrator 2021 test explained that such panels could save
platform is a Boeing 737-9 which is being used 9-13.6kg across an aircraft
to test 21 different technologies and modes ● Low-profile anti-collision light designed to
of operation. Although the aircraft is in Alaska fit mostly within the fuselage provides better
Airways livery, it is currently being operated by protection for the light, improves maintenance
Boeing as an experimental aircraft and will have and reduces drag. While this Hanwha Systems
test light is installed into a window plug, anti-
collision lights are normally located on the top
and bottom of the fuselage
● An acoustic lining inside the engine nacelle is
being evaluated for its ability to reduce noise
on current jet engines and inform designs for
next-generation ultra-high bypass models
● A fire extinguishing agent is being tested in
partnership with Meggitt to replace ozone-
depleting Halon 1301
● The aircraft will also be conducting further
operational efficiency flights in which pilots, air
traffic controllers and an airline’s operations
centre share digital information. The flight
across the Atlantic to Glasgow was used
to trial a new safer communication system
featuring text-based communication between
ATC and pilots, with the aim of increasing the
clarity of transmissions
● Identifying ways in which commercial airliners
can be used to measure greenhouse gas
emissions to help the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration improve its climate
modelling and long-term forecasting
Boeing and Alaska Airlines also took the
opportunity of the visit to bring along a number
of key executives to speak at a series of events,
including President of Boeing Europe and
Managing Director of Boeing UK and Ireland
Sir Martin Donnelly and Alaska Airlines Vice
President of Public Affairs & Sustainability, Diana
Birkett Rakow. Donnelly spoke about Boeing’s
connections with Scotland and Europe while
Rakow explained Alaska Airlines’ plans to achieve
net zero carbon emissions by 2040.
DECEMBER 2021 17AEROSPACE
GKN Aerospace Global Technology Centre
Good neighbours
DOMINIC PERRY*, reports from the opening of GKN Aerospace’s new Global
Technology Centre in Filton, UK on 18 October 2021.
G
KN Aerospace has reinforced its the very best capability from around the UK to
presence in the UK with the opening have its greatest impact.”
of its new £32m ($44m) global
technology centre (GTC) in Bristol. Welcome to the neighborhood
Located in Filton – the heart of the
city’s historic aerospace industry – the facility has While near neighbours of the GTC include
been part-funded by the UK government-backed aerospace giants Airbus and Rolls-Royce, GKN
Aerospace Technology Institute, which provided stresses that it is already working with companies
£15m. from outside the industry, such as McLaren,
Specialising in research and development Renishaw and Sandvik. Once fully operational, it
into the technologies required for tomorrow’s will house 300 people from GKN and its partners.
low- or zero-carbon aircraft, such as advanced Paja emphasises that research enabling the
manufacturing techniques and hydrogen decarbonisation of aviation will be a core focus
propulsion, the site will ensure that GKN retains its of the site. “The deployment of new technologies,
position as a key tier one supplier. such as additive manufacturing and composite
Celebrating the formal opening of the GTC materials, can deliver significant improvements in
on 18 October, David Paja, GKN Aerospace the efficiency of conventional aircraft and engines,”
Chief Executive, said the centre is based around he says.
two ambitions: “developing industry-changing “‘The Airbus’ ‘Wing of Tomorrow’ programme,
technology and creating a world-class ecosystem”. where our rear spar in composite materials is a
The GTC was “created to be a partnership critical building block, is a great example.”
Below left: The centre’s hub”, he said, creating a space where GKN and GKN handed to Airbus the first fixed trailing
opening ceremony. the wider industry and academia can collaborate edge for that programme in September – one of
Below right: GKN’s new “o integrate, connect and support our partners, our the initial projects to be delivered from the GTC.
Global Technology Centre. customers and our suppliers in a way that enables However, preceding that, GKN earlier this
GKN Aerospace
18 AEROSPACERight: An artist’s
Eviation
impression of the Eviation
Alice electric aircraft.
Below right: Constructing
The ‘Wing of Tomorrow’.
year shipped the
first composite
empennage, wings
and wiring system
for the Eviation
Alice electric
aircraft – a project
that was begun
while construction
of the GTC was still
under way.
Airbus
In addition, says John
Pritchard, President of GKN’s
GKN Aerosp
ace
civil aerospace business, “thanks to
the site’s agile working, the structures for the
Alice were designed, produced and delivered in programme the company and its partners from
GKN Aerospace
around 12 months.” industry and academia are developing a hydrogen
“Tell me anywhere else in the traditional fuel-cell powertrain for sub-regional aircraft
aviation industry where you could go from a clean that could enter service by around 2026. Total
sheet of paper to the delivery of parts that are investment in the project is £54m, with the
going to fly in a year,” he says. “Take that to one government contributing half.
of our more traditional manufacturing locations The H2GEAR project “has only been possible
and you are looking at three years minimum if you with the support of the ATI”, says Paja, which is
pushed it.” helping to “position the UK at the very leading
Next up for the team at the GTC is the design edge of the zero-emission flight”.
and development of the carbonfibre wing and He stresses his belief that “no one company
wiring system for another zero-emission aircraft: has all the answers and no one company can
the electric vertical take-off and landing VA-X4 go it alone”, which underlines the importance of
being brought to market by fellow Bristol firm facilities, such as the GTC.
Vertical Aerospace. “Tackling climate change will require
While the initial prototype will fly with a wing unprecedented collaboration between industry,
built by a different manufacturer, GKN will produce academia and government, working through
the structure for all serial aircraft. these problems together and creating the right
conditions for success.”
Novel power GKN already runs two similar sites in Europe,
located in Trollhättan, Sweden and Hoogeveen
Although well known for its aerostructures in the Netherlands, respectively specialising in
work, GKN is also using the GTC to develop propulsion technology, and composite development
novel propulsion systems. Under its H2GEAR and high-voltage wiring systems.
*Deputy Editor of Flight International
DECEMBER 2021 19AEROSPACE
Decarbonising aviation
Together in electric
and hydrogen dreams
PAUL ADAMS, Director and aerospace sector specialist at Vendigital, looks at the UK
government’s ambitious goals for decarbonistaion of air transport and the implications
for traditional aerospace supply chains.
T
he publication of the UK government’s Committee (CCC) predicting that the UK aviation
transport decarbonisation plan earlier sector will become the second largest contributor
this year will only enhance interest in to greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, unless
demand for electric and sustainably- significant action is taken. There is an urgent need
fuelled aircraft. However, this would to introduce more sustainable methods of air travel,
have a knock-on impact across the supply chain and, including electric aviation and the use of sustainable
to achieve the industry’s jet zero vision in a cost- fuelling solutions, such as hydrogen.
effective way, effective collaboration will be essential. Globally, a large number of companies are
Published in June 2021, the government’s competing to develop low-emissions methods of
transport decarbonisation plan sets out a pathway air transport. This includes eVTOL manufacturers,
for achieving UK transportation’s net zero vision. As such as Bristol-based air taxi company, Vertical
well as discussing how the plan complements the Aerospace, which is aiming to launch its first
government’s overall decarbonisation strategy, the commercial passenger flight by 2023. However,
report adopts a dual-pronged approach to delivering in reality, the small scale of these solutions makes
passenger journeys, while reducing greenhouse gas them better suited to a future transport ecosystem
emissions. This involves not only bringing sustainable complementing autonomous electric vehicles and
technologies to market quickly but also the creation potentially replacing some elements of rail travel,
of a fully joined-up, multi-modal transportation system. rather than long-haul passenger flight.
Major players within the aerospace industry are
Accelerating carbon emission investing in the potential of sustainable aviation fuels
reductions (SAFs). For example, in October 2021, Rolls-Royce
and Boeing announced a partnership, in collaboration
Over the ast 50 years, ongoing technological with World Energy. This will focus on testing a 747
developments within the sector have enabled Flying Testbed, using 100% sustainable aviation
significant reductions in carbon emissions. fuel on a Trent 1000 engine. Rolls-Royce has also
However, it is clear that improvements are not Airbus’ ZEROe hydrogen- announced a commitment to ensure all its large
happening quickly enough, with the Climate Change powered BWB concept. engines are compatible with SAF by 2023.
Airbus
20 AEROSPACEIt is important to bear in mind that, throughout its of more sustainable aircraft. While OEMs have
entire history, the commercial aviation industry has historically had access to bespoke technologies,
relied on a single fuel source. For this reason and they may need to adapt their procurement approach
to optimise its future performance, it is important in the future by purchasing more ‘off-the-shelf’
that the sector is united in choosing a sustainable solutions.
replacement for kerosene. Currently, hydrogen The entire industry, particularly in the UK, must
appears to be the front runner for the long term, with also consider how to build composite capability
Airbus pledging to bring a hydrogen-fueled aircraft further down the supply chain. Composite materials
to market by 2035. However, in reality, there are are key to light-weighting future aircraft and, due
still a number of practical challenges around its use, to the nature of working with composites, careful
including the investment needed to replace legacy thought needs to be given to the end-to-end supply
infrastructure at airports around the world. chain process, in order to deliver a more cost-
effective model.
Carbon emission reducers, assemble!
Value from the start
One of the key challenges facing the industry on its
journey to the jet zero future is the need to adapt its Considering the true design cost of emerging
procurement style to effectively nurture and develop technologies at an early stage will also make a
sustainable technologies. For example, components, difference as to whether they make it to market.
such as batteries will need to be procured from Investors have learnt some tough lessons through
major specialist organisations supplying multiple their experience in green power generation and
industries. This means that aerospace OEMs are electric vehicle technology, both in terms of risk
unlikely to have the ability to design bespoke and returns in a competitive space. With investors
batteries which meet their individual needs, as they now becoming more clued-up when it comes to
have previously enjoyed. This will require a new assessing the commercial viability of developments,
collaborative approach to both product and supply it is vital that start-ups are able to demonstrate the
chain design. value that their technological solutions will bring
Indeed, many still believe the industry is and provide a clear roadmap for achieving cost
characterised by adversarial supplier relationships. reductions, as well as technology.
However, this will not support a change of approach To support all of this it is clear that addressing
required to achieve net zero emissions. In order to the climate change crisis and achieving ‘jet zero’ will
rapidly bring sustainable technologies to market require some of the industry’s best scientific and
and industrialise them at every level of the supply technological brainpower. As such, the recent influx
chain, cross-industry collaboration, combined with of people from more diverse backgrounds into STEM
government support, will be essential. As part of this subjects can only be a positive driver for the industry,
process, OEMs may need to team up with smaller many of whom state climate change as motivation
suppliers and learn lessons from other areas of UK for their choice.
industry that have made more progress on their Through effective cross-industry collaboration,
journeys to net zero, such as the automotive sector. the sector can become united in the common goal
The standardisation and simplification of Vertical Aerospace’s all of achieving its jet zero ambitions and moving UK
components will also be key to the development electric VA-X4 concept. transportation towards a more sustainable future.
Vertical Aerospace
DECEMBER 2021 21You can also read
