Five sustainability trends driving change in aerospace industry

The aerospace industry emits close to one billion metric tons of carbon dioxide yearly, with the figures projected to triple by 2050 if suitable sustainability measures are not implemented. The industry is under constant pressure to review its operations and implement innovative technologies to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.

Companies in this sector are looking beyond trading carbon offsets and paying more attention to sustainable operations, with airlines pledging to support net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The aerospace industry relies heavily on fossil fuels, with aircraft burning several tons per trip. When these fuels burn, they release carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfate aerosols and water vapor which damage the ozone layer, increasing global temperatures. The aerospace industry should implement several decarbonization measures to address climate change. 

Here are five sustainability trends the aerospace industry should keep an eye on.

#1: Advanced aircraft design

Aircraft manufacturers mainly optimize aircraft designs to achieve the best fuel efficiency and reduce weight. A fuel-efficient aircraft has a less environmental impact as it burns less fuel and has lower emissions.

The manufacturers can improve performance by making slight improvements to aircraft by:

●      Enhancing engine designs for improved fuel efficiency

●      Improving aerodynamic designs

●      Exploring the use of lightweight fabrication material

●      Using advanced coatings

Aircraft manufacturers have access to advanced design software they can use to simulate the performance of different aircraft designs and evaluate how various manufacturing materials affect fuel efficiency. They can estimate the durability of the new fleet and predict emissions throughout their lifetime.

Airlines can also leverage advanced design software to upgrade an aging fleet, making it easier for them to control manufacturing — they can monitor sourcing and utilize sustainable materials while leveraging environmentally-friendly supply chains.

The advent of advanced manufacturing means aircraft manufacturers can reproduce complex parts designs faster and use fewer raw materials. Using additive manufacturing technologies like 3D printing makes it feasible for manufacturers to fabricate complex shapes with little to no waste. They can apply advanced coatings, keeping aircraft lighter and more fuel efficient.

#2: Use of sustainable aviation fuels

The utilization of sustainable air fuels (SAFs) is taking shape as airlines strive to achieve net-zero emissions. These fuels have similar chemical characteristics as fossil fuels but with fewer ozone depletion capabilities — they release carbon that has already been extracted from the environment. Emissions from SAFs have a shorter life cycle reducing their Ozone depletion rates further.

Airlines can use SAFs without redesigning engines or designing additional aircraft infrastructure. SAF is produced from diverse plant and animal materials, algae, and food waste. But, production is still under development — making the fuel expensive compared to fossil fuels.

However, the aerospace industry is making impressive progress by producing synthetic SAFs using hydrogen. These companies are scaling up hydrogen production from low-carbon sources and processes.

Using SAFs can reduce the effects of greenhouse gas emissions by over 80%. The sector still faces a myriad of challenges in its quest to streamline the production of sustainable aviation fuels. A breakthrough will see the industry edge closer to its net-zero emission goals.

#3: Urban air mobility

Another trend shaping sustainability in the aerospace sector is the expansion of urban air mobility. Two technologies are frontrunners in this sector:

●      Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL)

●      Drone deliveries

These solutions offer more sustainable solutions to commercial air travel. Although at an infancy stage, eVTOLs promise to revolutionize air travel for short and medium-distance flights. Companies are using drones for last-mile deliveries across cities, with their payload capacities increasing over time.

Image by macrovector on Freepik

Most eVTOLs and drones are electrically powered — meaning they have zero emissions. It is a big win if the aircraft are charged using power from renewable sources. They also have fewer rotable parts to reduce noise pollution, a concern in the aerospace industry.

Those eVTOLs using fossil fuels have fuel-efficient designs to minimize consumption for fewer emissions. Urban air mobility leverages the shortest traveling routes while improving accessibility to low-cost air travel.

#4: Advanced propulsion technology

Modern and future aircraft will not rely only on fossil-powered engines. The push for sustainable flights is revolutionizing the design of aircraft and spacecraft propulsion systems. Advanced propulsion technologies focus on increased efficiency, better fuel range and higher aircraft performance.

Some advanced propulsion systems include:

●      Electric

●      Hybrid

●      Solar

●      Fuel cell

Electric propulsion systems use motors powered by rechargeable batteries. Hybrid systems combine fossil fuels and advanced propulsion systems like electric, hydrogen-powered, and fuel-cell technologies. Advanced propulsion technologies require significant aircraft redesigns to modify power transfer.

Developing advanced propulsion systems requires close collaboration between the aerospace industry and other sectors — like the automotive industry that have made significant strides in battery technology. With these propulsion technologies taking shape, airlines achieve better fuel efficiency and can significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions.

#5: Optimize air travel management

Some airlines still use old air travel management systems, which increases inefficiency in route planning and asset management. Airlines can minimize their carbon footprints by digitizing air travel management and leveraging advanced technology to improve route planning and asset maintenance and enhance operational efficiency.

Leveraging advanced technologies — like artificial intelligence — can improve fuel efficiency by simplifying flight path planning, predicting market dynamics, and suggesting routes based on weather conditions. It helps companies to optimize fleet utilization for more economical operations.

Optimized flight path planning implies companies can reduce aircraft mileage, leading to reduced fuel consumption and fewer emissions. They can also digitize customer management at passenger terminals to reduce paperwork and other activities associated with greenhouse gas emissions.

Summing up

The transition towards net-zero emission in the aerospace industry demands radical changes in all facets of operations. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is not a reserve of airlines only. The entire industry, including manufacturers and other entities in the supply chain, should adopt sustainable technologies to reduce waste and pollution.

The sector should leverage advanced technology to maximize asset and operational efficiency. The ultimate goal of sustainability-driven innovation in the aerospace industry is to ensure net-zero emissions for a safer and cleaner planet.

About the author: Bryan Christiansen is the founder and CEO of Limble CMMS. Limble is a modern, easy-to-use mobile CMMS software that takes the stress and chaos out of maintenance by helping managers organize, automate, and streamline their maintenance operations.

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