Message from RAeS

OUR PRESIDENT

Howard Nye

In the words of UN Secretary General António Guterres¹: “The outcome of COP26 is a compromise. It reflects the interests, the contradictions and the state of political will in the world today. It is an important step but it is not enough.”

In my own words, in order that life in all its forms can continue to survive on our planet, sustainability and the achievement of net zero is our collective responsibility across all domains.

While the international aviation industry is struggling to recover from the impact of Covid-19 and given the potential significant increase both in air passengers and cargo volumes over the next 30 years, we must address reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, like CO₂ and methane, through development of sustainable aviation fuels and innovative propulsion systems, as well as by optimisation of vehicle aerodynamics, flight paths and reduction of contrails.

This applies not only to flight but to the whole supply chain of aircraft, airports, infrastructure, training and related services, from design, manufacture, assembly and testing, through to operation, maintenance and disposal.

Our Corporate Partners (CP) are demonstrating their deep commitment, for example:

On 2 November, in a momentous event for the future of aviation² recognised by the Guinness World Records, an Ikarus C42 light aircraft flown by RAF (CP) test pilot Group Capt Peter Hackett FRAeS completed the world’s first successful flight using 100% synthetic fuel. The product of Project MARTIN, a partnership between Zero Petroleum and the RAF Rapid Capabilities Office which offered up to 90% carbon saving per flight without aircraft modification and part of a series of partnerships to consider the future energy needs of current and future Royal Air Force platforms as part of the RAF’s commitment to Net Zero 40.
On 9 November, inspired by the flight of migratory geese, Airbus³ (CP) conducted the first long-haul demonstration of two A350 aircraft flying in formation between Toulouse and Montreal, as part of its fello’fly project to reduce fuel burn and CO₂ emissions.
Space technology firm Orbex⁴ (CP) has unveiled what is considered the world’s most ‘environmentally friendly’ launch vehicle, Prime, which, according to a new study by Exeter University, emits up to 96% fewer emissions than comparable launch vehicles, thanks to its renewable, ‘ultra-low-carbon’ fuel. Also designed to be reusable, it leaves no debris on Earth, in the oceans or in the atmosphere.
At COP26, more than 100 countries signed up to the Global Methane Pledge⁵. A new UN International Methane Emissions Observatory was also announced, with related satellite observation data to be provided by ESA (CP) and GHGSat^6.
Reaction Engines (CP), IP Group and STFC announced a new joint venture⁷ for real-time production of a blended ammonia-hydrogen fuel mixture, with propulsion properties similar to jet fuel, and providing power/propulsion solutions for hard-to-decarbonise sectors, such as transport and power infrastructure.

IN MY OWN WORDS, IN ORDER THAT LIFE IN ALL ITS FORMS CAN CONTINUE TO SURVIVE ON OUR PLANET, SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF NET ZERO IS OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY ACROSS ALL DOMAINS

I was also honoured to have participated at several recent important Society events, including:

The Hamburg Branch Gerhard Sedlmayr Named Lecture entitled ‘The Road to Sustainable Aviation – SAF or Hydrogen?’
The Aeronautical Society of South Africa Annual Conference ‘Getting Our Gear Up!’ addressing how the aviation industry can significantly reduce its climate impact, while still allowing air travel to continue.
The Hatfield Branch Sir Geoffrey de Havilland Named Lecture given by Dr Bill Brooks: ‘40 years of Design, Build, Fly, Repeat’.
The Lanchester Named Lecture, an Aerodynamics Group event at which Prof Arthur Rizzi, Professor Emeritus at the Swedish KTH Royal Institute of Technology, gave an insightful presentation regarding the important role and evolution of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in analysing existing and determining future wing designs.
A lecture by Peter Hadinger, Chief Technology Officer at Inmarsat, a commercial company currently operating 14 satellites in geostationary orbit 36,000km above Earth to which 160,000 maritime vessels and 17,000 aircraft are connected.
The Toulouse Branch participation at the Aerospace Tech Week 3-4 November 2021, on the question of post-Covid recovery of the aerospace and aviation industries.

I thank all those engaged in these events, and the important role you all play in sharing the knowledge and experience of skilled experts with a wider community and in encouraging the younger generation, male and female and of diverse cultures, to enter the aerospace, aviation or space domain.

My last word of thanks goes to all the volunteers supporting the National Aerospace Library, for whom the NAL Autumn Volunteers Garden Party was held on 29 November.

1 https://tinyurl.com/COP26UNSecGen

2 https://tinyurl.com/RAF-Air-Water

3 https://tinyurl.com/fello-fly

4 https://tinyurl.com/Orbex-Clean

5 https://tinyurl.com/UNGlobalCH4

6 https://tinyurl.com/ESA-GHGSat-CH4

7 https://tinyurl.com/AmmoniaCracker

OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

David Edwards

COP26 captured the world’s attention last month. The warnings of where the planet is headed, unless we make real change, were stark. It’s vital that we engage though on the immensely positive steps our industry has made already on climate impact, as well as the new and novel technologies we’re working on.

Our Climate Change conference, hosted by the RAeS Greener by Design Specialist Group, examined how we’ve been doing this, the part played by ATM, new technologies and energy sources, such as electricity and hydrogen. Senior government, industry, academic and environmental speakers from around the world gave their views which generated strong debate. As I type, RollsRoyce has just claimed the world speed record for an electric aircraft at an incredible 387mph, following closely on the heels of the UK Royal Air Force securing a Guinness World Record for the first flight by an aircraft powered by fully synthetic aviation fuel. These leaps help the sector’s continued development work but also generate international awareness and government support for next year’s ICAO Assembly.

The Flight Simulation conference, built on over 50 years of RAeS Flight Simulation Specialist Group events, provided a critical examination of the latest challenges and developments in the area. Presentations covered everything from regulatory evolution, developments in simulator technology, towards better training, simulating the ATC and communications environments through modelling and simulation support to novel air vehicles, and tools and techniques to enhance training effectiveness.

On 1-2 December we are holding a hybrid conference on Alternative Propulsion Systems – the challenges and opportunities for aircraft design. The conference will bring together speakers from aerodynamics, propulsion and structures & materials disciplines to discuss the design challenges and opportunities presented by alternatively-fuelled aircraft, how to achieve significant confidence in their design and, ultimately, how to realise the potential of these systems as a contributor to net zero aviation.

WE’RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE PROMOTED SOME OF, AND WELCOMED OTHER NEW MEMBERS TO, THE SOCIETY’S FULL-TIME TEAM, WHO WILL BE INTRODUCING THEMSELVES TO YOU IN THE COMING WEEKS

Our final conference of 2021 will be the Aerospace Medicine Group Symposium on 8 December, which will feature a ‘back to basics’ look at aerospace physiological and medical considerations related to parachuting, cardiology and ejection seat operations, fitness to fly considerations for civilian pilots with physical impairments and the European Space Agency Parastronaut Feasibility Project. There will also be a review of Covid-related impacts and activities from the past two years and how it will change the interaction of aviation and public health. The annual student presentation competition will look to engage and bring through the next generation of aerospace medicine scientists and practitioners.

We’re delighted to have promoted some of, and welcomed other new members to, the Society’s full-time team, who will be introducing themselves to you in the coming weeks. We also send our best wishes to AEROSPACE Editor-in-Chief, Tim Robinson, who has been tweeting from his hospital bed recently but is thankfully now on the road to recovery. Bill Read, the Deputy Editor, and the rest of our publications team have delivered this edition on time with great content, and therefore deserve a special mention. Thanks all!

After you’ve overdosed on Christmas cake, why not spend Boxing Day catching up on those books you really wanted, rather than the one you were given as a present? Our National Aerospace Library, where I’ve been fortunate to spend some more time recently, gives you access to a range of news, analysis and information through our e-book and e-journals collections, all accessed through www.aerosociety.com/elibrary. Don’t forget to access your online learning portal, Aeroversity too, where your learning can count towards Continuing Professional Development – I guarantee you’ll learn more than you will in the annual family game of Trivial Pursuit.

Please do keep No.4 Hamilton Place in mind for any meetings and events that you might have coming up in 2022 as we cautiously reopen. hello@4hp.org.uk finds the team for any questions.

After almost two years of enforced distancing, I’m very keen to provide more insight to the role of the Society’s team at Hamilton Place. Next month I’m handing over this column to Pearl Mensah, who is the Society’s Director of Membership and Professional Standards, to tell you more about the work her team does across areas, such as membership, education and apprenticeships. I’ll be back in February, followed by Emma Bossom, Director of Knowledge and Networks, to tell you about her team in March.

Finally, after what’s been another tumultuous year for our sector, you, our members as well as the team here, I want to offer you my thanks for your support, my best wishes for Christmas and especially so for 2022. I pray that it’s a far more positive year for us all, with more opportunity to interact, and I look forward to meeting more of you in person as I travel around the Branches.