MARCH 20259ELECTRICAL BUSINESS REVIEW EUROPETO AVOID FRUSTRATION AND FAILURE, IT IS CRUCIAL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE REALLY KNOW AND WHERE WE HAVE OUR BLIND SPOTSwe will enable our customers to transition from traditional fuels to the SAF types of the future as they penetrate the market.Aspects in Which the Aircraft Architecture Definitions Face LimitationsThe optimum solution for aircraft architecture, of course, depends very much on the specifics of the intended use. The classical challenges of aircraft design today, same as in the past, are aerodynamics, weight and fuel consumption. Today, there is a large focus on emissions. Those can be impacted by either one of those three pillars. Since we expect that future regulations will include the type of emissions into the equation, the question of fuel consumption gets a new twist. We know that we can limit the greenhouse gas emissions or eliminate them all together by replacing the energy carrier on board. But if that replacement is an energy carrier and/or powertrain that is massively heavier or requires substantially larger volumes to be housed on board, the resulting weight penalty and aerodynamic deterioration will limit the usability of those vehicles or even make it impossible to find a solution for the intended use. Significant Trends Shaping the Future of Aircraft ArchitectureThe most significant trends that will impact the future of aircraft architecture come from the legislative framework given to the aerospace industry for their operations. The technical drivers will be further on weight, aerodynamics and fuel consumption. Some examples: aerodynamic efficiency improvements could be achieved by the introduction of super high aspect ratio wings if material technology enables the building of those without a weight penalty that eats up the aerodynamic gains. Aircraft shapes could change more towards blended wing body shapes or flying wings if new control technologies enable such aircraft concepts. New navigation procedures taking into consideration atmospheric conditions might be introduced. New engines, novel powertrain architectures or alternative fuels might shape future aeroplane architectures. AI will drive significant change in the way we design, build and operate future aeroplanes and, as a consequence, what the aircraft architecture looks like. Advice to Professionals in the Aerospace Industry Regarding Best PracticesWell, I am not really in a position to tell other experienced colleagues in the industry what actions they should take. For myself, I try to be open to any new idea, pay attention to new proposals and try to understand the pros and cons before I build my opinion. I also learned that it is essential to introduce technologies successfully into a new product application; a thorough technology development process with clearly defined goals and exit criteria is required. An honest evaluation of merits and risks is necessary. To avoid frustration and failure, it is crucial to understand what we really know and where we have our blind spots. But when I look at some of the promises people make regarding technology readiness and product availability, I fear that, often, good intentions overrule the fundamentals of physics. Also, interestingly, not everything that sounds like a super novel idea is, in fact, new. The industry as a whole has tried many things in the past. Some were successful; others were put aside for good reason.
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