Boeing, NASA and Pratt & Whitney Drive Sustainable Aerospace
The collaboration between aerospace manufacturers NASA, Boeing, and Pratt & Whitney has ignited a new chapter in sustainable aviation.
The trio have joined forces under NASA's Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability (AACES) 2050 programme, designed to rethink future aircraft in terms of design, technology and overall environmental impact, with an ambitious goal to transform commercial aviation by 2050.
NASA's initiative invited the brightest minds from both industry and academia to submit their visionary ideas on aircraft concepts that could revolutionise eco-friendly flying.
The total contribution from NASA for this endeavour amounted to $US11.5m, awarded to four companies and one university.
This funding will fuel the exploration of next-level aircraft configurations and technologies, ultimately guiding NASA in selecting the most promising concepts for further exploration.
Boeing's approach to engineering
At Boeing, engineers are using this opportunity to delve into studies labelled 'from mild to wild,' opening possibilities for a range of innovations in aviation technology and design. This comprehensive approach ensures that all possible avenues for sustainability are explored.
Meanwhile, Pratt & Whitney has placed its focus on a broad suite of propulsion technologies that can drastically improve thermal and propulsion efficiency. The main targets here are substantial reductions in fuel consumption and, as a result, greenhouse gas emissions.
Engaging with the academic sector, NASA has also brought Georgia Institute of Technology into the fold. The institute will primarily explore alternative fuels and novel aircraft configurations, beginning with their innovative Advanced Technology Hydrogen Electric Novel Aircraft.
Other participants like Aurora Flight Sciences and Electra are also contributing to this sustainable voyage.
Aurora is pushing the boundaries in alternative aviation fuels and propulsion systems among other technologies, while Electra focuses on the integration of its unique aerodynamic design capabilities to promote reductions in emissions and noise, enhancing community-friendly air travel.
Collaborative efforts towards sustainability
By tapping into a network of both industrial and academic partners, NASA ensures a diverse input of ideas and solutions. Each entity, while working in its area of expertise, complements the others, thereby fostering a holistic developmental approach to futuristic aircraft.
This collective effort exemplifies the transition from being mere participants in the aviation sector to becoming active partners in shaping its future.
It is imperative to understand that the integration of these varied technologies, from cryogenic liquid hydrogen as a fuel to advanced electric propulsion systems as explored by JetZero and Electra, represents a multifaceted strategy to combat the environmental challenges posed by traditional aviation practices.
“Through initiatives like AACES, NASA is positioned to harness a broad set of perspectives about how to further increase aircraft efficiency, reduce aviation’s environmental impact and enhance US technological competitiveness in the 2040s, 2050s and beyond," says Bob Pearce, NASA Associate Administrator for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.
“As a leader in US sustainable aviation research and development, these awards are one example of how we bring together the best ideas and most innovative concepts from the private sector, academia, research agencies and other stakeholders to pioneer the future of aviation.”
NASA said: “The new AACES awards are initiating a similar process, but on a longer timeline, focusing on technologies to help transform aviation beyond SFNP with aircraft that could enter service by 2050.
“The kinds of partnerships NASA develops through SFNP and AACES are critical for the agency to support the US goal of net-zero aviation emissions by 2050 and to help put aviation on a path toward energy resilience.”
“This work will sit alongside other NASA research programs we are helping to advance, including the X-66 Sustainable Flight Demonstrator and the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstrator.”
Envisioning the future of aviation
NASA's vision for these partnerships and studies is clear — to push the boundaries of what's currently imaginable in aviation to realms of greater sustainability and efficiency.
The AACES wing of NASA, which steers these explorations, is a direct continuation of their Sustainable Flight National Partnership started in 2021.
This partnership focuses on integrating breakthrough technologies into next-gen aircraft anticipated to take to the skies by the 2030s. Projects under this endeavour, such as the experimental X-66 Sustainable Flight Demonstrator and the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration, are paving the way towards more efficient engines and the rapid manufacturing of innovative lightweight materials.
The ongoing research and collaborations signify a pivotal shift towards a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly aviation industry, guided by the insights and technological advancements contributed by each key player in the AACES programme.
“Under the AACES program, we’ll pair our experts with NASA and leading universities to examine aircraft designs that could achieve further fuel efficiency gains, reduced noise and fewer persistent contrails for air travel by 2050," says Brian Moran, CSO at The Boeing Company.
“Concepts will range from mild to wild, considering among others improved aerodynamics and novel energy systems.
“A bit like concept cars that may not end up in the show room but inspire the art of the possible, these studies bring out the best in our teams and partners.”
Brian highlights how the programme will work, adding that : “Aurora will serve as the lead performing organisation alongside a cross-enterprise Boeing team.
“University partners include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Penn State University, and the University of Michigan.
“This work will sit alongside other NASA research programs we are helping to advance, including the X-66 Sustainable Flight Demonstrator and the Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstrator.”
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