|
Bringing Stakeholders Together to Address
Aviation's Environmental Challenges
|
|
IN THIS ISSUE:
AGA Newsletter welcomes your contributions. If you see anything that should appear in our next issue, send it to us!
aga.communications@lindberghfoundation.org |
|
BREAKTHROUGHS & DISCOVERIES
Early Indicators of Aviation Futures & Environmental Issues
EMISSIONS
(ATWOnline.com, July 2012)
Commercial aircraft and engine manufacturers said the global airline industry can meet its goal of "carbon neutral" growth from 2020 if the right mix of technologies and investments are pursued by companies and governments.
Speaking at ATW's 5th annual Eco-Aviation conference in Washington DC June 21, Boeing Commercial Airplanes director-environmental strategy Michael Hurd said the industry can achieve its stated goal of a 1.5% improvement in fuel efficiency/carbon dioxide emissions annually through 2020 and CO2-neutral growth beyond (ATW Daily News, May 16, 2011) if enough progress is made in three areas: continued technology improvement, air traffic control modernization and the development of renewable fuels. READ MORE...
-
Oil Co. Shares Good News About Unleaded Avgas
(Venice.Patch.com, July 2012)
 The U.S. government's sputtering search for an unleaded fuel for piston-powered general aviation aircraft should focus on Sweden, where the stuff has been made since 1991.
At least that's the opinion of Lars Hjelmberg, founder of Sweden's Hjelmco Oil. He contends that more than 90 percent of the world's piston aircraft can safely use his unleaded fuel, called 91/96 UL. READ MORE...
FUEL INNOVATIONS
(AOL Energy, July 2012)
An expected sharp fall in the price of automotive lithium ion batteries over the next decade could make electric vehicles competitive with conventional cars, raising wide-ranging questions for the future of the electric power and petroleum industries, as well as for car makers, according to a new report from the management consultants McKinsey & Co.
The study predicts prices for the automotive battery packs could drop to about $200 per kilowatt hour by 2020 and $160 by 2025 from $500-$600 currently because of manufacturing economies of scale, lower component prices, and improvements in battery capacity. READ MORE...
-
(GeneralAviationNews.com, July 2012)
The transition to an unleaded aviation fuel is still years away, according to the final report from the FAA's Unleaded Avgas Transition Aviation Rulemaking Committee (UAT ARC).
And whether it is GAMI's G100UL, Swift Fuels biofuel, or some other alternative, all candidate fuels require "significant assessment" by the FAA to ensure safety, according to the final report of the collaborative industry-government task force, which was made up of representatives of aircraft and engine manufacturers, fuel producers and distributors, operator groups, aviation associations, the FAA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). READ MORE...
-
In The Philippines, Turning Plastic Waste Into Fuel
(Smartplanet.com, July 2012)
 Plastic waste is a problem all over the world. And it is especially troubling in the Philippines where plastic waste piles up in Manila's Payal landfill, unable to decompose. But one inventor thinks he might have found the answer to this chronic problem.
Jayme Navarro, founder of Poly-Green Technology and Resources is converting plastic waste into fuel through a process known as Pyrolysis. READ MORE...
-
(GeneralAviationNews.com, July 2012)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Having the world's leading general aviation company make a strong commitment to using turbodiesel engines is a "welcome and major step in the continued recognition of the many benefits of diesel technology," according to Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum.
"Cessna's new 182 NXT turbodiesel engine is being described as a 'game changer' by experts in the general aviation industry," Schaeffer said. "With its increased range, greater payload capacity and lower direct operating costs, it's easy to see why Cessna's new diesel powered aircraft is going to transform general aviation." READ MORE...
-
Can Electric Aircraft Take to the Skies?
(Scientific American, August 2012)
 Dully whining electric motors may soon compete with roaring turbofans in the sky as battery-powered planes and helicopters take flight.
Aircraft are emerging as the new frontier in electric vehicles as new technology and market demand converge to drive development. More energy-dense batteries, lighter components and more efficient power electronics are making plug-in airplanes a realistic prospect. Talk of taxes on greenhouse gas emissions and more stringent noise regulations have sent engineers looking beyond pistons and turbines. READ MORE...
-
(Flight International Magazine, July 2012)
Lufthansa was not among the first airlines that conducted biofuel test flights over the past few years. But being in the front row is not important, says Joachim Buse, vice-president of aviation biofuel at the German carrier. "We rather stay a bit more in the background... but have everything carefully worked out, with scientific support and, in the end, economically sensible results." Last year, however, the Germans eventually taxied to the runway for their first partly biofuel-powered take-off - and nearly 1,200 departures followed as part of the airline's "burnFAIR" long-term trial, with support from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and federal ministry of economics and technology READ MORE...
-
Planting Ideas: The Arduous Process of Biofuel Certification
(Flight International Magazine, July 2012)
Plentiful availability of biofuels is essential if aviation is to meet its CO2 reduction targets - but their certification is an arduous process. READ MORE... -
(by Dean Sigler, CafeFoundation.org)
Several researchers in commercial, government, and academic realms are studying the possibility of using aluminum as an energy source for vehicles and even grid power.
In the commercial realm, Alchemy Research in Israel makes the following rather startling claims. "Alydro is a new technology developed by Alchemy Research for producing clean energy from a reaction of aluminum and water at elevated temperatures.
"Alydro generates energy in the form of hydrogen and heat. The only by-product is fully recyclable aluminum oxide. READ MORE...
-
(Flight International Magazine, July 2012)
Use of electricity as a replacement for bleed-air power for hydraulic systems offers a novel means of reducing an aircraft's weight - and therefore its fuel consumption. READ MORE...
|
|
ORGANIZATIONS & INSTITUTIONS
(GeneralAviationNews.com, July 2012)
 AVweb is reporting that some California FBOs are imposing a nickel-per-gallon surcharge on 100LL fuel sales to fund a legal defense against an environmental group that's trying to restrict leaded avgas from the California market. The FBOs, which are part of the California Avgas Coalition, are countersuing the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) and the California Attorney General's office. SOURCE
-
(GeneralAviationNews.com, July 2012)
A seasoned professional with experience in the global oil and gas industry has been named CEO of Swift Fuels, a recently reorganized chemical research firm that is actively developing a commercial replacement for leaded general aviation gasoline.
The appointment of Chris D'Acosta, who has been an oil industry consulting executive and previously held management positions with Wichita-based Koch Industries, was announced by majority owner and interim CEO Rob Broin. Broin will remain Chairman of the Board and actively involved in Swift's product development. Broin said D'Acosta's skills will strengthen Swift Fuels. READ MORE...
-
Senators Brace For Debate On Pentagon's Biofuels Drive
(Reuters.com, July 2012)
U.S. senators who support the Pentagon's push to expand its use of biofuels said they have a plan to answer critics who argue the fuel is far too expensive to help develop at a time when the military faces massive cuts.
The battle on Capitol Hill comes as the U.S. Navy's "Great Green Fleet" prepares to run military exercises in the central Pacific that will, on Thursday, feature its first operational test of biofuels. READ MORE...
-
United Airlines' Jeff Smisek Addresses Sustainability
By Jeff Smisek, United Airlines President & CEO
 At United, we are committed to building a sustainable future for our customers, our co-workers, our investors and the environment. Our more than 85,000 co-workers operate the most extensive route network of any airline in the world. Every day, with our partners at United Express, we operate an average of more than 5,500 flights to 377 airports on six continents. Airlines are not only powerful economic engines for the communities they serve, but they also connect cultures and ideas. We're proud of what we do and the value that we provide to society.
To build a sustainable future for all our constituents, we will focus on achieving sufficient and sustained profitability so that we can continue to deliver a critical service that drives significant economic value across the globe. While we work to achieve that profitability, we will also take actions to reduce our impact on the environment and to be a responsible global citizen. READ MORE...
|
PRESERVATION
(GeneralAviationNews.com, July 2012)
 The Aplomado Falcon is regaining a foothold in parts of Texas where they disappeared more than a half-century ago. On July 1, biologists began releasing captive-bred Aplomado Falcons to the wild for the first time at Mustang Island State Park. The birds were flown to the park by volunteer pilots with LightHawk. READ MORE...
|
INSTALLATIONS
(GeneralAviationNews.com, July 2012)
A state-of-the-art general aviation terminal building has just opened at Oakland County International Airport (PTK) in southeastern Michigan that has been certified to the LEED Gold standard.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality, according to county officials. READ MORE...
-
Europe's Capacity Crunch
(Flight International Magazine, July 2012)
 Environmental concerns and politics have combined to put the brakes on expansion at London Heathrow and, across the continent, airports are hitting their limits. READ MORE...
|
MATERIALS & MANUFACTURING
(SmartPlanet.com, July 2012)
It's 75 times lighter than styrofoam. But resilient enough to retain its original form even after being completely squished. And it can soak up entire light rays.
Aerographite, the latest lab creation from scientists at Germany's Kiel University and the Hamburg University of Technology, weighs in at 0.2 milligrams per cubic centimeter, making it the lightest material on earth. The new material is four times lighter than the previous record-holder, a micro-lattice material that weighs 0.9 mg/cc. In comparison, the once heralded Aerogel, which weighs 3 mg per cubic cenimeters, now looks downright heavy. READ MORE...
|
SYSTEM INNOVATIONS
(GeneralAviationNews.com, July 2012)
 Terrafugia's prototype street-legal aircraft, the Transition, has moved into Phase 2 of its six planned phases of flight-testing, said company officials, who note the prototype won't be at next week's AirVenture in Oshkosh as they don't want to disrupt flight tests. READ MORE...
-
(SmartPlanet.com, July 2012)
In 2011, Esteban Fernandez-Juricic, Ph.D and Bradley F. Blackwell, Ph.D received a Lindbergh Grant for their work in developing alternative lighting systems to minimize aircraft-bird collisions. The Lindbergh Foundation grant builds on the findings of their work in 2009 (highlighted in the next paragraph). Dr. Blackwell recently stated, "there are quite few moving parts involved in trying to get through this type of an experiment and discern effects of object approach and lighting treatment on bird behavior. But the findings have such good potential to improve not only our understanding of animal behavioral ecology, but to yield application of the findings in products that save human lives and the direct mortality of the birds struck. Speaking for our entire team, we're very excited about the future. Also, we appreciate the assistance of the Lindbergh Foundation in teasing out further questions about bird behavior in airport settings and in response to approaching aircraft."
From SmartPlanet: As seen during 2009's "Miracle on the Hudson," aircrafts, even the large commercial variety, are no match for the forces of wildlife. During that year's fateful US Airways flight, a bird strike killed both of the plane's engines shortly after takeoff, forcing the jet's pilot to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River.
Unfortunately, the 2009 bird strike wasn't simply a chance occurrence. Bird-airplane collisionsare a common and significant threat to both civil and military aviation all over the world. And in addition to safety concerns, such strikes also result in major economic losses in the United States alone, costs are estimated to be as high as $614 million per year. READ MORE...
From AVWeb: Aircraft lights make it easier for birds to see and avoid aircraft, possibly helping to reduce the risk of bird strikes, according to a report recently published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Indiana State University and Purdue University tested the response of Canada geese to three remote-controlled aircraft -- one with lights off, one with lights on, and one painted to resemble a bird of prey. They found geese responded more quickly to avoid the aircraft with its lights on. The research "could set the aviation industry on the right track to developing lighting systems that will reduce the rate of bird strikes," the report said. READ MORE...
CLICK HERE for more information on their Lindbergh Foundation Grant.
-
Electric Airplane Breaks 200 Mph Barrier, Sets Record
(SmartPlanet.com, July 2012)
Chip Yates likes to push boundaries. The world record holder for the fastest electric motorcycle now has another claim to fame: first person to break 200 miles per hour in an electric aircraft.
Yates secured his electric motorcycle record of 196 miles per hour on the Bonneville Salt Flats last year. This week, he flew his Long-ESA plane 202.6 miles per hour in level flight at California's Inyokern Airport in the Mojave Desert. The previous record holder was the electric Cri-Cri, at 175 miles per hour.
The Long-ESA plane was a modified version of the Long-EZ, a well-known design by Burt Ratan known for its speed and endurance, which in gasoline-powered engines frequently hits 200 miles per hour. READ MORE...
-
Solar Impulse Returns To Europe After Record Flight
(The Economic Times, July 2012)
 TOULOUSE: The Swiss sun-powered aircraft Solar Impulse took off from southwestern France Tuesday on the final leg of its first intercontinental trip that took it from Europe to North Africa and back. Pilot Bertrand Piccard took the plane up into the sky from an airfield near Toulouse on its journey back to Payerne in Switzerland, from where it left on May 24 for the Moroccan capital Rabat via Madrid. READ MORE...
|
|
AGA SPOTLIGHT
Fedex Donates Boeing 727 To Ariz. Community College(KVOA.com, July 2012)
TUCSON - Pima Community College got a jumbo sized gift on Tuesday. FedEx donated a Boeing 727 transport plane to the Aviation Technology Center. The jumbo jet is 34 years old but it's still operational and it's worth $800,000. Originally built as a passenger jet in 1978, the 200,000 pound 727 was bought by FedEx 12 years later and converted into a transport jet. Because FedEx is upgrading its fleet the old timer could have gone to the scrap yard, but FedEx had a better idea. READ MORE... |
Scientists have developed a new model of disease contagion that judges airports in terms of their spreading influence. Which ones are likeliest to play major roles in the growth of a pandemic? MIT News reports. READ MORE... |
|
FEATURE
Electric Flight Symposium at EAA is Great Success
By Yolanka Wulff, Executive Director
 Temperatures over 100 degrees did not dissuade the crowd which gathered in Innovations Hangar North for the two-day Electric Flight Symposium at AirVenture. The Lindbergh Foundation's Aviation Green Alliance partnered with AeroInnovate to host the Symposium and the adjacent Innovation Hangar South which housed displays of the latest technological breakthroughs in aviation. EAA graciously provided the meeting facilities and logistics. For four hours each day, over 175 Symposium attendees listened to experts and innovators talk about the present and future of electric flight.
The first day was dedicated to Future Vision. The day began with a captivating presentation by John Petersen, professional futurist and Lindbergh Foundation board member. John helped the audience understand the exponential rate of change that technology is undergoing and gave us a glimpse of the future. During the first day we also heard from such notable speakers as Dr. Mark Maybury, Chief Scientist of the U.S. Air Force, who shared insights into the military's research and development in electric flight, Bob Araujo, Manager of Sustainable Development at Sikorsky, Don Hillebrand, Director of the Center for Transportation Research at Argonne National Labs and Michael Dudley, Director of NASA Aeronautical Research Institute. We were also treated to the reflections and visions of Dr. Mort Grosser who was a member of the Gossamer Albatross team, and to the energy and enthusiasm of Chip Yates who, only a week before, had broken the world speed record for electric flight.
The theme of the second day was Breakthrough Technologies. We heard once again from Don Hillebrand about the current state of battery technology. We also heard from Mark Moore, Scientist at NASA Langley Research Center and developer of the Puffin. In the Q&A following Dr. Hillebrand and Mr. Moore's presentations, the audience was treated to a lively point / counter-point debate. The second session of the day was an Ignite Presentation made up of electric aircraft entrepreneurs. During this time, the innovators gave quick presentations, accompanied by video and slides, of what their companies are developing. Igniters included Flight of the Century, e-volo, Sonex, Embry Riddle's EcoEagle project, and Synergy.
During and after both sessions, participants had the unique opportunity to talk with these wonderful speakers. Despite the heat, speakers and attendees alike lingered long after the sessions had ended to continue their conversations. EADA (the Electric Aircraft Development Alliance, another Lindbergh Foundation program) met as part of the Symposium, and set its workplan deliverables for the rest of the year. AGA is very pleased with the success of this Symposium and is looking forward to a repeat of the event next year.
Be sure to Visit LindberghFoundation.org to view the symposium speakers' presentations.
Photos Courtesy John Slemp
|
FUTURES OF AVIATION
NASA said today that its experimental X-48C hybrid wing-body airplane took flight for the first time.
A remotely powered prototype that's housed at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center atEdwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert, the X-48C is thought to be the future of efficient, long-haul aviation. READ MORE...
-
Blade Runner: 18-Rotor "Volocopter" Moving from Concept to Prototype
(ScientificAmerican.com, July 2012)
That would be progress in itself. Multicopter 1 looked like something from an especially iffy episode of MacGyver, complete with landing gear that involved a silver yoga ball. Senkel rode seated amid all those rotors powered only by lithium batteries. Multicopter 1 generated an average of 20 kilowatts for hovering and was aloft for just a few minutes.
There's a reason why the experimental craft flew briefly and only once.Senkel describes that first craft as "glued and screwed together." Seated on the same platform as the spinning blades, he says, "I was aware of the fact that I will be dead, maybe. Besides, we showed that the concept works. What do we win if we fly it twice?" he asks rhetorically.
-
EMG-5 Electric Motorglider
by Dean Sigler, CafeFoundation.org
This isn't Brian Carpenter's first time at the small airplane rodeo. He's built at least a dozen aircraft, designed several from scratch, and even entertained the hosts of TV's Mythbusters series with a series of rides in his team's ultralights.
His latest creation at Tangent Aircraft is a sleek Part 103 ultralight that seems to break or bend the rules on several fronts, presenting a twin-pivoting-motored, Fowler-flapped, retractable-gear craft that would seem to be too complex to fall into legal 103 status - or even into something the average novice private pilot would be allowed to fly. The 36-foot span and 105-square-foot wing would seem too fast to meet stall limits. READ MORE...
|
|
LINDBERGH FOUNDATION NEWS
- Remembering Sally Ride By Kelley Welf The Lindbergh Foundation is deeply saddened by the passing of Astronaut Sally Ride on July 23, 2012. In 1983, Sally Ride established her place in history by becoming the first American woman to blast off our planet and into space. Having done that, she became a role model for many aspiring young people, particularly young women. Her enduring legacy on the planet has been set, however, by her work, leadership and inspiration as one of the strongest advocates for science, technology, engineering and math. We have lost an incredible person who will be missed, but her accomplishments and life will continue to serve to motivate many. It was indeed an honor to recognize Dr. Ride with the Foundation's first Anne Morrow Lindbergh Award in 2003 for her outstanding achievement, spirit of initiative, and great dedication toward making positive contributions to our world. READ MORE... |
|
|
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. |
|
AGA MEMBER PROFILE:
Hawker Beechcraft
A big thank you to Hawker Beechcraft for renewing their AGA membership! HBC was our first corporate Founding Member, and they are now our first renewing corporate member. Hawker Beechcraft has established a reputation as a company with a "green" initiative, showcased in areas such as the fuel-efficient King Air 350i, participation with regulatory committees whose goal is to reduce or eliminate the current use of Avgas and Jet A, and a commitment to a sustainable supply chain. Hawker Beechcraft understands the value of AGA membership - recently, a potential customer asked about HBC's involvement in the Alliance!
UPCOMING EVENTS
2012
2012 Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition
Aug 16 - 18
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Rocky Mountain Airshow
Aug 24 - 26
Broomfield, CO
SpeedNews 17th Annual Regional & Business Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference
November 14 - 16
Scottsdale, AZ
SpeedNews 13th Annual Aviation Industry Suppliers Conference
September 17 - 19
Hôtel Palladia, France
The 18th World Route Development Forum
September 29 -
October 2
Abu Dhabi, UAE
AOPA Aviation Summit
Oct 11 - 13
Palm Springs, CA
NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention
Oct 30 - Nov 1
Orlando, FL
Heard of an upcoming event? email us!
|
|
AVIATION GREEN ALLIANCE FOUNDING MEMBERS:
 Bombardier Aerospace
BRS Aerospace
Cessna Aircraft Company
Fantasy of Flight
FedEx Corporation
Hawker Beechcraft Corp.
Jeppesen
 Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.
Individuals:
Greg Herrick
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
AGA Steering Committee
Kelley Welf
Consultant
Yolanka Wulff
Executive Director
|
|
.jpg)
