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Aviation's Environmental Challenges
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BREAKTHROUGHS & DISCOVERIES
Early Indicators of Aviation Futures & Environmental Issues
BREAKTHROUGHS_DISC

FUEL INNOVATIONS

  

(Gajitz.com)
 
In the ever-increasing energy crisis, it's becoming more and more important to find alternative fuel sources. While the most common types of alternative energy studies seem to be focused on solar engery and biofuel, there are a few less-mainstream ideas floating around out there. One that the US Navy is exploring is how to make jet fuel out of seawater. Sound crazy? It's entirely possible, though whether the end product would actually wind up being carbon neutral is still up in the air. READ MORE...
 
 

EMISSIONS
 
 
(AirCargoNews.com, Jan 2011)
 

In a bid to reduce pollution researchers are developing new materials that will make aircraft lighter and stronger, saving energy costs and making aeroplanes more environmentally-friendly.

Aviation emissions account for around three per cent of global warming, while air travel is expected to increase by approximately five per cent each year over the next 20 years. READ MORE...

 
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(Skynews.com.au, Dec 2011)
 
 

Europe has pledged to press on with new charges for airline carbon emissions across its airspace as of January 1, after scoring a key victory over US rivals in the EU's top court.

The decision was welcomed as vindication by the European Union, which told US airlines to get ready to obey the law in the same way EU companies respect American regulations READ MORE...

  

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The Battle Over Aviation Emissions

(NY Times, Dec 2011) 

  Emissions_Battle

BRUSSELS - One of the most contested global environmental initiatives ever undertaken is scheduled to get under way on New Year's Day, when the European Union plans to begin regulating greenhouse gas emissions from airlines.

 

Much is at stake for Europe, which has sought to burnish its identity as a significant international actor partly by leading the world on climate protection. READ MORE...

 
 

INSTALLATIONS

 

AVJET Hangar Puts Green Technology to Work  

(Avjet.com, Sept 14 2010)

 Hangar_Utopia 

There perhaps is no better example of how business aviation is meeting the challenge of environmental sustainability than Avjet Corporation's "green" Hangar 25 at Bob Hope Airport (BUR) in Burbank, CA. 

Developed in conjunction with Shangri-La Construction, Hangar 25 opened in December 2008 as the world's first private aircraft hangar to achieve platinum certification under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. READ MORE...

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Hangar Utopia
(AviationWeek.com, Mar 30 2009)
 
 

BURBANK, Calif.--Imagine walking into a white-walled hangar with floors resembling polished grey granite. The shiny floor reflects sunlight cascading through rooftop windows/panels, obviating the need for fluorescent lights. More than 95% of regularly occupied spaces, even center offices, are daylit--connecting the indoors and outdoors.

In this climate-controlled space, excess moisture evaporates and temperatures inside the hangar facility average 70 degrees F without air conditioning, even when temperatures outside soar to 110 degrees F. Picture this comfortable space, where four large private jets undergo light maintenance, and where electricity always is free. READ MORE...

 

 


MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING

  

New material claimed to store more energy and cost less money than batteries

(GizMag.com, Sep 29 2011)

  NewBatteries

Researchers from the National University of Singapore's Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative (NUSNNI) have created what they claim is the world's first energy-storage membrane. Not only is the material soft and foldable, but it doesn't incorporate liquid electrolytes that can spill out if it's damaged, it's more cost-effective than capacitors or traditional batteries, and it's reportedly capable of storing more energy. READ MORE...

 

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Researchers develop paint-on solar cells 

 

The next coat of paint you put 

on the outside of your home couldgenerate electricity from light - electricity that can be used to power the appliances and equipment on the inside.

 

A team of researchers at the University of Notre Dame has made a major advance toward this vision by creating an inexpensive "solar paint" that uses semiconducting nanoparticles to produce energy. READ MORE...

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Thinking Thin: 

(Gajitz.com)
 
As great as we think e-paper and other thin, flexible, ultra-portable gadgets are, the one problem that has foiled more of these projects than anything else is the power source. Most batteries require some amount of bulk, making them impractical for use in flexible and lightweight objects. But a team of materials scientists at Stanford have succeeded in creating a paper-thin battery that could be the answer to all of those nagging problems and finally usher in the era of e-paper, powered packaging and electronic newspapers. READ MORE...
 
-
 
 
(Gajitz.com)
 
Always looking for better and more efficient ways to power our stuff, researchers at theUniversity of Missouri recently created the smallest, most efficient nuclear battery ever. They chose to work with a radioisotope battery rather than a chemical battery because the radioisotope battery provides a drastically higher power density. Its secret lies in its liquid semiconductor; solid semiconductors would be harmed by the radiation, but the team believes they've solved that problem. READ MORE... 
-
 
 
(SmartPlanet.com, July 2011)
 

By Tuan C. Nguyen - Although it's difficult to pinpoint what exactly it would take to alleviate electric car "range anxiety," but I'll go out on a limb and say that for the vast majority of people, oh, 732 miles on a charge would more than suffice.

 

While such a technology doesn't exist, Japanese researchers at Sumitomo Electric have come up with a breakthrough that could triple the energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries, and in effect make it a very real possibility. It's called Aluminum-Celmet, a 98 percent porous material that, when used in place of a standard aluminum foil anode, allows for electric car batteries to be packed with a lot more lithium. READ MORE...

 

 

DidYouMiss

(Space.com, Oct 2007)

 

A new composite material that contains layers of aluminum and glass fiber could save operators of transport aircraft many billions of dollars in maintenance and operating costs, researchers say.

 

 

Futures of Aviation
 

  

Unmanned K-MAX Helicopter Makes First Combat Cargo Flight in Afghanistan

 

The unmanned Kaman K-MAX helicopter has made its first combat resupply mission in Afghanistan. Designed to reduce the reliance on truck convoys that are often targeted by IED (improvised explosive device) strikes when resupplying front-line troops in remote areas and manned aircraft that place their crews in danger, the unmanned aircraft is a modified K-MAX intermeshing rotor helicopter with the ability to lift a payload of over 6,000 pounds (2,721 kg).READ MORE... 

 

 

(hplusmagazine.com, Aug 28 2009)
 
On September 28, 2008, Falcon 1 Flight 4 lifted off at 4:15 p.m. (PDT) from the Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) launch site on Omelek Island at the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) in the Central Pacific, about 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii. It achieved an elliptical orbit of 621 x 643 km, 9.3 degrees inclination, and carried into orbit a payload mass simulator of approximately 165 kg (364 lbs), designed and built by SpaceX specifically for this mission. Here's a video of the launch:
SpaceX - Falcon 1 Flight 5, RazakSAT payload (T-2 to SECO)
-
 
(Gajitz.com)
 
The elusive dream of the flying car is still alive and well with designers who just can't seem to get over the idea. Now, DARPA is sinking more than $60 million into a multi-purpose flying vehicle called the Transformer. The weird automobile looks like a cross between an armored Humvee, a helicopter and a light airplane. It is meant to be able to drive across all types of terrain and then take off - without need for a runway - to simply fly above dangerous obstacles. The car's ability to fly could help soldiers avoid explosives and make their movements less predictable to enemies. Because it can take off and land virtually anywhere, it could be an invaluable tool in getting wounded soldiers off of the battle field and to medical help quickly.  READ MORE...
-
 
(Gajitz.com)
 
The Jetsons made us all believe that flying cars were the future of commuting, and in truth we've had the technology to create flying cars for quite some time now. They haven't taken off, so to speak, for a number of reasons - most notably that air traffic control capabilities might be overwhelmed by a large number of personal aircraft flying around. With computerized air traffic control taking over, flying car ideas are again gaining traction. READ MORE...

Issue #5 

 

BREAKTHROUGHS & DISCOVERIE

 

AGA SPOTLIGHT

 

FEATURE

 

FUTURES OF AVIATION

  


 

About AGA

 

The Aviation Green Alliance creates multiple platforms for Members to share strategies, findings, progress, and ideas related to aviation's environmental challenges.

 

AGA offers memberships for everyone, at the corporate, individual & academic level. Visit our website for more information.

Upcoming Events 

2012

 

Atlanta Aero Club 

  March 15 2012

  Atlanta, GA

 

2012 Sun 'n Fun

  March 27 - April 1

  Lakeland, FL

 

2012 Lindbergh Award Celebration 

  March 29 2012 

  Sun 'n Fun

  Lakeland, FL

 

Lindbergh Foundation 

35th Anniversary

  May 18 2012

  The Explorers Club 

  New York, NY                        

 AirVenture

  July 2012

  Oshkosh, WI

 

  October 2012

  Palm Springs, CA

 

Heard of an upcoming event? email us!


Member Profile:

  

Hawker Beechcraft Logo Bombardier Receives Medal

Michael Gelpi, Bombardier, receives founder's medal from Larry Williams, Lindbergh Foundation

 

Founding Member

Bombardier takes

corporate social responsibility (CSR) seriously. As CSR gains momentum across Bombardier, they are deepening their commitment to moving forward responsibly. This was reflected in both the big and little things they did to advance their CSR agenda over the past year..
 

  

Aviation Green 
Alliance Founding Members:
 

 

Bombardier Aerospace

 

 
 
Cessna Aircraft Company

 

 
 
Hawker Beechcraft Corp.

 

 
 
Jeppesen
 
 
Individuals:
John and Martha King
  
David Treinis

 

Kermit Weeks   

 


 


  

 


Visit the AGA Website

 

 

 


 

AGA News Staff

 

Shelley Nehl - Staff Accountant

John Petersen - Editor

Andy Scott - Graphic Designer

David Treinis - Development

Kelley Welf - Consultant


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