Sustainability Challenges of Advanced Air Mobility: Energy, Life cycle impacts, and Noise
Presentation Type
Invited Speaker
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Faculty
Faculty/Staff Department
Aeronautical Science
Invited Speaker Institution/Department
Florida Institute of Technology, College of Aeronautics
Presentation Description/Abstract
Advanced air mobility (AAM) is actively being implemented, with Florida as one of the test beds for development. While an exciting new area of development in aviation, there are several challenges to be addressed in order for AAM to be more sustainable. This presentation will review three main areas of AAM impacts: energy, life cycle impacts, and noise.
Sustainability has been advertised as one of the AAM benefits, with electric aircraft as the path towards lowering environmental impact. However, this will only hold true if the electricity production is primarily from renewable sources. Prior research has recommended investing in airport infrastructure for electric aircraft and AAM, including solar, which is particularly effective in Florida. Tracking the actual emissions and carbon footprint for electric vehicles will be key to understanding the environmental impact, which will be tied to the energy production.
Additionally, while eVTOL aircraft are still in certification processes, the life cycle analysis for the aircraft and batteries in particular is central to the sustainability of AAM. Batteries for electric aircraft are used to their maximum capabilities because in aviation range is key for safety and flight planning. Thus, the battery health and life cycle contribute directly to electric aviation’s sustainability.
Finally, noise has been studied for other aircraft types, but this known environmental impact will be more widespread for the low altitude urban flying planned with AAM.
Keywords
sustainability, AAM, eVTOL, batteries, electric propulsion, airport infrastructure
Sustainability Challenges of Advanced Air Mobility: Energy, Life cycle impacts, and Noise
Advanced air mobility (AAM) is actively being implemented, with Florida as one of the test beds for development. While an exciting new area of development in aviation, there are several challenges to be addressed in order for AAM to be more sustainable. This presentation will review three main areas of AAM impacts: energy, life cycle impacts, and noise.
Sustainability has been advertised as one of the AAM benefits, with electric aircraft as the path towards lowering environmental impact. However, this will only hold true if the electricity production is primarily from renewable sources. Prior research has recommended investing in airport infrastructure for electric aircraft and AAM, including solar, which is particularly effective in Florida. Tracking the actual emissions and carbon footprint for electric vehicles will be key to understanding the environmental impact, which will be tied to the energy production.
Additionally, while eVTOL aircraft are still in certification processes, the life cycle analysis for the aircraft and batteries in particular is central to the sustainability of AAM. Batteries for electric aircraft are used to their maximum capabilities because in aviation range is key for safety and flight planning. Thus, the battery health and life cycle contribute directly to electric aviation’s sustainability.
Finally, noise has been studied for other aircraft types, but this known environmental impact will be more widespread for the low altitude urban flying planned with AAM.