Aviation is on the cusp of a transformative era, and the Clean Aviation programme is leading the charge to redefine the future of flight. As Europe’s ambitious initiative for sustainable aviation, Clean Aviation is focused on developing cutting-edge technologies and innovations that will help the industry achieve its sustainability goals.
In the special session at this year's AIAA Scitech Forum, titled “Future Aircraft Design, Novel Certification, and Digital Technology Integration,” industry leaders, researchers, and innovators came together to discuss groundbreaking advancements in aircraft design, certification frameworks for disruptive technologies, and the role of digitalization in shaping tomorrow's aviation landscape.
Session Overview
Date & Time: January 8, 2025 | 09:30 - 11:50
Room: Manatee Spring II
Chairman: Charles Blondel de Joigny, Head of European and National Research Programs & CONCERTO Project Coordinator, Dassault Aviation
The session offered in-depth insights into the ongoing projects and milestones achieved under the Clean Aviation programme, with a particular focus on:
Innovations in aircraft design for improved efficiency and sustainability.
Novel certification processes to ensure safe and compliant adoption of disruptive technologies.
Digital tools and frameworks that streamline the development and integration of advanced aviation systems.
Key Highlights
The CONCERTO Project
Certification remains one of the most critical challenges in adopting disruptive technologies. The CONCERTO Project addresses this challenge head-on by creating a Digital Certification Framework and introducing the innovative Certification Readiness Level (CRL) scale. This scale provides a systematic approach to evaluating the readiness of new technologies, ensuring they meet safety standards without stifling innovation.
Key areas of focus include the exploration of proof-of-concept studies to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating advanced systems into existing and future aircraft designs.
The ODE4HERA Project
The aviation industry is looking to hybrid-electric propulsion as a key solution for sustainable regional aviation. The ODE4HERA (Open Digital Environment for Hybrid-Electric Regional Architectures) project leverages digital technologies to develop robust hybrid-electric systems. By creating an open digital environment, the project enables seamless integration of these systems into regional aircraft, reducing emissions and improving operational efficiency.
Session Agenda
09:30–09:45 AM
Introduction to the Clean Aviation Program
Sebastien Dubois, Head of Unit - Programme Development & Communications, Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking
This introductory session provided an overview of the Clean Aviation initiative, highlighting its transformative impact on sustainability and innovation within the aviation sector.
09:45–11:30 AM
CONCERTO – Pioneering Certification of Disruptive Technologies
CONCERTO Overview: Charles Blondel de Joigny, Dassault Aviation
Digital Certification Framework and CRL Scale: Alain Leroy, Chief Engineer, European Union Aviation Safety Agency
H2 & Active Wing Proofs of Concept:
Joël Jezégou, Professor – Aircraft Certification, Maintenance, and Operations, ISAE-SUPAERO
Gregory O’Sullivan, Research Engineer, PIPISTREL
Christel Séguin, Senior Researcher, ONERA
Nicolas Fezans, Research Scientist and Scientific Advisor in Flight Systems, Dynamics & Control, DLR
This segment delved into the core achievements of the CONCERTO project, showcasing the collaborative efforts of leading researchers and organizations in addressing certification challenges for disruptive aviation technologies.
11:30–11:50 AM
ODE4HERA – Open Digital Environment for Hybrid-Electric Regional Architectures
Dr. Björn Nagel, Founding Director, DLR Institute for System Architectures in Aeronautics
Dr. Nagel presented the objectives and achievements of the ODE4HERA project, with a focus on how digital frameworks are enabling the integration of hybrid-electric systems into regional aviation.
Join us for an in-depth exploration of Clean Aviation's cutting-edge projects and their role in shaping the future of sustainable flight.
Comments