This May, the Sustainable Skies World Summit (SSWS) will return to our iconic venue to investigate key themes that will contribute to a more sustainable future for the aviation industry. The rapid growth of technology has created an exciting opportunity to revolutionise air travel by enabling a cleaner and more efficient form of transportation. This blog post will focus on one of the key themes of SSWS24 – Future of Flight and explore how eVTOLs can pave the way for the industry to achieve its Net Zero commitment.
As we look towards a more sustainable future, it is imperative to explore the key innovations within the sector which could transform the future of flight as we know it. The Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing aircraft (eVTOLs) have been gathering momentum in recent years as a catalyst for discovering alternative sustainable ways to fly.
eVTOL and its Impact of Sustainable Aviation
An eVTOL aircraft uses electric-powered rotors or propellers and can smoothly transition from vertical take-off to forward flight. The concept emerged in 2009 when NASA released a video of the Puffin eVTOLs concept, an electric-powered vertical take-off and landing air vehicle, achieving its first flight in 2010, gaining immense attention worldwide. Since then, advancements with electric propulsion have truly taken off with leading industry players like Boeing and Airbus as well as emerging innovators such as Joby Aviation and Volocopter, experimenting in their development as a goal to use this technology to reach the industry’s sustainability targets and provide a more efficient form of transportation.
Sustainability Challenges in Traditional Aviation
Understanding the aviation industry’s carbon footprint is crucial to highlighting the importance of future flight technologies as a means of a more sustainable way to travel. One of the key challenges faced by traditional aviation is its contribution to carbon dioxide emissions — whilst the industry is only responsible for 2-3% of global CO2 emissions, it is vital to reduce this number to reach Net Zero and change people’s perception. Read more about aviation’s impact in our Myth-busting Preconceptions blog here. The industry must collaborate in our efforts to reduce its carbon footprint by investing in new technologies, transitioning to alternative fuels, and adopting sustainable practices.
Investing in new fleets is an effective way to reduce fuel emissions. If airlines use modern aircraft with advanced technologies, it is possible to reduce fuel consumption by 15-20%. Alternatively, innovative solutions like eVTOLs can further reduce emissions, noting that a helicopter burns through 20 gallons of fuel an hour compared to an eVTOL which produces zero emissions (Archer Aviation, 2021).
Are eVTOLs the Answer?
This technology offers numerous benefits, with one of the most significant being their lower impact on the environment. Powered by electric propulsion, they produce zero emissions during flight, which can play a crucial role in reducing the sector’s carbon footprint. Additionally, eVTOLs are almost 1,000 times quieter than of a helicopter, making eVTOLs a great option to reduce noise pollution in urban areas (Archer Aviation, 2021). Furthermore, another advantage of eVTOLs is their versatility. They are designed to be able to take off and land in a variety of locations, including rooftops and small landing pads. This could help alleviate traffic congestion and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by cars and trucks on the ground.
Collaboration is Key
Collaboration is key to achieving a more sustainable future for aviation and is crucial to creating a supportive regulatory framework that enables the safe and efficient operation of future flight technologies. Working closely with government regulators and industry players to outline certification standards and procedures can ensure that these technologies are hitting the market and that the aviation industry is well-positioned to take advantage of the advances in sustainability, efficiency and safety which eVTOLs provide.
A great example of this was at the Global Urban & Advanced Air Summit Asia, which took place in Singapore, on 27-28 September 2023. The event enabled a forum for discussion, attracting an elite international gathering of innovators, regulators, government and investors.
What’s Next?
Join us for the Sustainable Skies World Summit on the 15-16 May 2024 as we bring together the industry once again to discuss and implement strategies to put the sector on the path to reaching Net Zero. The conversation and insights gained at SSWS24 will form the foundation for discussions at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024, accelerating the aerospace industry’s progress towards reaching its Net Zero commitments.
