A paper released by trade association ADS’s Advanced Air Mobility Group today (20 April 2021) discusses a new economic model for electric aviation.
Co-authored by a team that includes Darrell Swanson of Swanson Aviation Consultancy, Frazer-Nash’s Aerospace and Aviation Business Manager, Luke Bonnett, Dr. Harini Kulatunga, Head of UK Urban Air Mobility at Airbus and ADS Aerospace Innovation Executive, Karun Harrar, the paper delves into the potential of distributed aviation.
Distributed aviation, the group suggests, could act as a disruptor of traditional hydrocarbon aviation, offering new electric propulsion systems for aircraft that have a low environmental impact but deliver a high economic contribution. The paper proposes that electric aircraft could significantly change the way we travel, enabling the operation of routes that are not economically viable for traditionally fuelled aircraft. Able to operate from congested urban and city centres, due to their reduced noise footprint, they could increase the interconnectedness of existing mass transit networks and complement public transport systems.
Discussing how Frazer-Nash’s systems engineering expertise contributed to the distributed aviation paper, Luke said:
“We are really pleased to have had the opportunity to contribute to this paper, and to support this innovative sector. Distributed aviation has the potential to deliver a sustainable transport revolution, and to offer positive economic and social impacts for both the UK and the world.
“The complexity of the inter-related system of systems involved in the distributed aviation economic model means that input from multiple experts is essential. Frazer-Nash’s breadth of expertise meant we were able to bring contributions from those working on hydrocarbon, hybrid and fully electronic propulsion systems, as well as the autonomous systems and digital tools that will enable distributed aviation – whilst still retaining a focus on the big picture.”
