Sustainable Aviation

Aviation History

Hybrid aircraft were chosen long ago: passengers on deck and cargo and baggage below deck in the hold. This decision by the designers has resulted in the air transport system for passengers becoming unnecessarily complicated. Two (2) hours before boarding, passengers check in their checked baggage at the airport. Then, a long wait before boarding. Meanwhile, the suitcases and cargo containers must be stowed in the aircraft hold by loaders under favorable working conditions. Then, the aircraft can take off and fly to its destination. After landing, the suitcases must be returned before the journey to its final destination can continue.

Since the dawn of aviation a hundred years ago, flying has developed to a very high standard. It is fast, inexpensive, and very safe. Flying has become indispensable. It fulfills humanity's need to connect and explore the world.

Flying is for people

We should limit air freight to medicines, urgent shipments, and low weight cargo. Cargo flights can be made more sustainable with the ‘Blended-wing Aircraft configuration. One pilot on board and one remotely on the ground. We can make aviation more sustainable by revising the long-standing hybrid design choices. The primary function of aviation is to connect people globally. Family visits, conferences, honeymoons, or diplomatic meetings.

By no longer separating people and their luggage, and by flying less (unnecessary) cargo, we can make aviation approximately 30% more sustainable.

The Ecoboard Aviation system innovation represents an estimated value of €500 billion for the EU. [tbd]

Note that India is currently building 80 new airports and China is adding 200 new airports to its current total of 350. Both countries have ordered thousands of new single-aisle aircraft from Airbus and Boeing. China's F.A. Comac is continuing to build its own aircraft industry.

Sustainable Aviation

The aviation sector can become approximately 30% more sustainable within just 6 years. If travelers fly with only hand luggage, we can save 1.5 hours during boarding and 0.5 hours upon arrival. This time saving can be utilized for sustainability by reducing the airspeed from 830 km/h to 700 km/h. The total travel time remains the same, yet we already save 8% fuel per traveler. A conventional A321neo has 190 seats. Thanks to extra seats in the cargo hold, the number of seats increases to 247. Partly due to this increase, fuel consumption drops by 30% per passenger.

The aircraft cabin can be optimized for all personal luggage. Two rolling suitcases plus a handbag per passenger. Thanks to the extra seats, the number of travelers at airports such as Schiphol can grow, while the number of flight movements decreases.

Loaders can assist travelers with the boarding process in an ergonomic, standing position. A small cargo hold is available for items such as strollers, a bicycle, or long objects like ski equipment. Cargo containers can be transported by train and boat. To encourage this, the environmental levy on air cargo could be increased. For the remaining air cargo, special so called 'flying wing' aircraft can be deployed with, for example, one pilot and a windowless fuselage. Cargo planes also do not require a pressurized cabin, resulting in a lower aircraft weight and consequently a 20-30% decrease in fuel consumption.

The graph below

shows the CO2 emissions of various sectors since the year 2005. What stands out is that the mobility sector shows a CO2 reduction, while aviation actually contributes more to CO2 pollution.

In itself, aviation CO2 emissions are not yet very high, approximately 25% within the sectors shown. However, due to the strong growth of the aviation sector and the lack of improvements, aviation is falling behind.

Making aviation ‘sustainable as a system.’

Optimizing the door-to-door journey. The need for system improvement is high. The world population is growing rapidly, and more and more people can afford air travel. Currently, 80 new airports are under construction in India, and 200 airports are being added in China.

The image below shows the quantification of door-to-door travel time with the new concept. Travel time remains the same despite the lower flight speed. The required amount of fuel per seat has decreased from 2.19 to 1.75 liters.