FEBRUARY 2025AEROSPACEDEFENSEREVIEW.COM8In My OpinionELECTRIFICATION IN AVIATION: THE FUTURE OF AIR TRAVELBy Patrick Blackburn, Senior Director of Engineering, MeggittOne of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions is the aviation industry, accounting for approximately 2 percent of global emissions. In recent years, there has been a flourishing interest in finding ways to reduce the environmental impact of air transport. Electrification in aerospace is one of the most encouraging solutions to address this issue.Electrification in aviation involves the use of electric power to replace traditional fossil fuels in aircraft propulsion systems. Electric propulsion offers several advantages over traditional combustion engines, including lower emissions, reduced noise levels, and improved efficiency. This can be achieved through the use of batteries, fuel cells, or hybrid systems that combine both electric and traditional combustion engines.The primary benefit of electrification in aeronautics is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Electric aircraft produce zero emissions during flight, making them a much more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional combustion engines. This is particularly important in light of the growing concerns about climate change and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions.Another benefit of electric propulsion is the potential to reduce noise pollution. Electric motors are much quieter than traditional engines, making them ideal for use in urban areas and reducing noise pollution around airports. This could have a significant impact on the quality of life for people living near airports and could potentially open up new opportunities for air travel in densely populated areas.However, there are still several challenges that must be overcome before electric propulsion becomes a viable option for commercial aviation. One of the main challenges is the limited energy density of current battery technology. Batteries are heavy and take up a lot of space, which makes it difficult to design an electric INCREASING ONBOARD ELECTRICAL POWER ALSO NEEDS TO BE BALANCED WITH CABLE WEIGHT. INCREASING CURRENT WOULD REQUIRE LARGER CONDUCTORS LEADING TO HEAVIER CABLES
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