Search Results

The aviation industry has been submitted to a set of environmental and commercial drivers that have led it to pursue engine technologies focused on the efficiency improvement, greenhouse (CO2) and pollutant (NOx and PM) emissions reductions, as well as noise abatement.The effort to comply with the ambitious long term environmental and efficiency targets set by the regulatory authorities has driven the aeronautic industry in a technological research effort. In the medium term, the aviation industry's strategy for commercial aviation is to focus on the advanced, but rather conventional propulsion systems (mainly turbofan engines). In this scenario, technological efforts have focused basically on enhancing thermal efficiency, through advanced core engines, as well as improving propulsive efficiency, through the use of low pressure systems (basically reduced pressure ratio and increased engine bypass ratio).

The aviation industry currently holds a share of 2% global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although relatively small, estimated demand increase indicates an up to 350% emission rise in 2050, in the so called “no action scenario”. These emissions are injected into the upper atmosphere, with a potentialized stronger greenhouse effect than at ground level. In this context, ambitious emission reduction targets have been proposed into a global commitment, focused into a long term carbon emission reduction strategy, which would lead to net GHG emissions to peak in 2020, and then halves by 2050, based on 2005 levels, while accommodating increased air transport demand. To achieve this challenging goal, a multifaceted approach is required, ranging from technology oriented actions, like revolutionary aerodynamically driven design, new composite lightweight material and engine technology improvement, as well as improved ground and flight operational practices.

The aviation industry (passenger and freight), which currently accounts for 2.5% of the global CO2 emissions (1.9% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions), is continuously under pressure to reduce its environmental footprint, given its historical and forecasted environmental track, strongly affected by the remarkable air traffic volume increase rates, albeit with a slower growth in emissions, due to the massive aviation's efficiency improvements, driven by the in the design and technology(more efficient and larger) aircrafts; improved operational practices and increased load factors (more passengers and freight per flight). Nevertheless, it has not been enough to tackle the rapidly increasing CO2 emissions (26% in the 2013-2018 timeframe and expected to continue increasing), which ultimately could grow between 2.4 and 3.6 times by 2050.

Following the electrification trend observed in the automotive industry, the idea of an electric propulsion aircraft has also drawn attention and investments from a range of aviation industry stakeholders (including the world's largest aerospace companies) focused on both fuel burning reduction and environmental performance improvement (greenhouse gases (GHG), pollutants and noise emissions) potential of electric propulsion technology. Electric propulsion has the potential to provide more efficient, cleaner, quieter and more profitable aviation services, with potential benefits to both airlines and passengers. Furthermore, with its inherent quiet feature, it has also the potential to lead to a reassessment of the role of airports along the world cities, as well as revitalize regional short-haul flights and helps the launch of air service into underserved regions around the world.