e-flight-Journal01-2017

e Organizations
management. Current automation relies on cross checking
and validation which defaults to a manual mode in the event
of anything out of the ordinary.
There is growing interest in more robust levels of automation
which continue to operate across more portions of the
flight envelope (including takeoff and landing) and automation
systems that will continue to operate even during certain
failure or out of the ordinary conditions. At the farther end of
increased automation, there is a significant level of interest
among a number of manufacturers in the “on-demand mobility”
space. Conceptually, aircraft (both conventional takeoff
and landing and vertical takeoff and landing) can become
more integrated into day to day life as the reliability and simplified
operation of increased automation takes hold. While
technologically, these are steps forward, beginning to take
operational credit for these technologies (less training burden
on pilots and flight crews, simplified ratings and licensing,
etc.) will require a bit of a leap.
In the coming year, the GAMA Electric Propulsion Innovation
Committee (EPIC) will take on the task of identifying and addressing
areas where increased automation will likely contribute
to the safety and utility of aviation to assure pilots and
flight crew training and licensing can be appropriately adjusted
and simplified.
Increased Electrification
In the larger segments of aviation (commercial airlines and
business jets) the strong desire for longer distances and
more efficient operations has pushed many of the traditionally
mechanical or pneumatic systems to become electrified
(electric environmental systems, electric anti-ice, electric actuation,
etc.). As experience is gained with these systems
and as battery energy densities continue to grow, this trend
for increased electrification is speeding up. In most aviation
design circles, concepts for hybrid and electric propulsion
are the next obvious step forward and there is much activity
in this space. In the lighter segments of general aviation,
there are already all electric aircraft flying with second generation
designs following immediately after.
The pressures moving the industry towards increased electrification
(range, efficiency, reliability, etc.) are certain to increase
and the benefits of this direction will continue to grow.
Reliable data indicates that Lithium Ion battery energy density
has increased by 3% for each of the last 10-years and
this trend is expected to accelerate or continue into the foreseeable
future. While approaching the energy density of liquid
fuel is still many decades out, the efficiencies and design
characteristics of electric propulsion already make sense for
lighter aircraft today.
These are truly the exciting early days of hybrid and electric
propulsion and increased automation in aviation. The new
degrees of freedom enabled by these technologies and the
more nimble and responsive design certification environment
have invigorated what was once a sleepy aviation community
into an exciting incubator for growing the not too distant
future of aviation.
Greg Bowles
GAMA’s Vice President for Global Innovation & Policy,
Manager of GAMA Electric Propulsion and Innovation
Committee (EPIC)
For more information on
GAMA and EPIC, contact
Greg Bowles at gbowles@gama.aero
or +32 (2)0 550 39 00
Greg Bowles, Vice President GAMA and
Manager of EPIC presenting at the Dallas
UBER Elevate conference in April 2017.
e Flight Journal
32