Archive Lectures & Events 2020

RAeS Hamburg lecture in cooperation with DGLR, HAW Hamburg, VDI & ZAL

For service providers involved in the delivery of aircraft cabin experiences, focussing on passenger satisfaction and remaining responsive to shifts in passenger preferences and requirements is key.  Furthermore, awareness of the environmental impacts of aviation and the need to mitigate these effects through enhancements to operations and aircraft design has arguably never been greater. The nature of these challenges has been made even more complex by the ongoing disruption caused by COVID-19. New disruptive and emerging technologies are likely to play key role in helping overcome these barriers, and we are already seeing exciting innovations in areas including in-flight passenger wellbeing, sustainability and personalisation. This presentation examines the role of technology in the future aircraft cabin, examining onboard experiential needs and requirements from a passenger’s perspective to better understand the capabilities and potential applications of various current and future aircraft cabin technologies.

Thomas is a Lecturer in Airport Planning and Management in the Centre for Air Transport Management at Cranfield University, UK, and Course Director for the MSc in Airport Planning and Management. His research and teaching activities focus on issues of air transport environmental sustainability and resilience planning, and how disruptive technologies can be leveraged to facilitate safe, seamless and sustainable journeys. 

Concious Cabins

RAeS lecture in cooperation with DGLR, HAW Hamburg, VDI & ZAL

Greening civil aviation is key to our global future. It is imperative to succeed without the vast economic and social damage that would follow constraining aircraft demand and operations.  So radical aircraft propulsion technologies must be developed urgently.  Most likely to succeed in this grand challenge (promising full decarbonisation) are hydrogen (H2) and electrification.  H2 is an inevitable solution for a fully sustainable aviation future, via hybrid/fuel cell technologies for short to medium range and H2 combustion in gas turbines for longer missions. This presentation will provide an overview of the ongoing EU H2020 “ENABLing CryogEnic Hydrogen-Based CO2-free Air Transport” (ENABLEH2) project being coordinated by Cranfield University. The case for LH2 for civil aviation will be discussed followed by the strategic importance and overall scope of ENABLEH2. A summary of the key achievements to date will presented for the ENABLEH2 research on:

• Ultra-low NOx hydrogen micromix combustion
• Fuel system heat management – to exploit the formidable heat sink potential of LH2
• Safety
• LH2 Aircraft “Technology Evaluation”        

The presentation will conclude with an overview of twelve key research technology strands (identified as part of a preliminary roadmapping exercise in ENABLEH2) that are necessary for accelerating the entry-into-service of LH2 aircraft to realise the environmental benefits as soon as possible. 

Biography

In 2004, Dr Sethi received an MSc Thermal Power degree from Cranfield University where he was also awarded the "British Aerospace Companies" Prize. Dr Sethi completed his PhD in the Department of Power and Propulsion at Cranfield University in 2008. Upon completion of his PhD, Dr Sethi joined the School of Engineering as a Research Fellow and was promoted to Lecturer in 2012.

In 2019 he became Deputy Director of Research, School of Aerospace, Transport & Manufacturing  and in 2020 he also became Associate Professor in Gas Turbine Combustion and Environmental Impact.

He is currently Overall Project Coordinator and CU Principal Investigator for the ~€4M EU H2020 ““ENABLing CryogEnic Hydrogen-Based CO2-free Air Transport” ENABLEH2 project (20+ key EU civil aviation stakeholders – partners and Industry advisory board members)

HAW lecture in cooperation with RAeS Hamburg, DGLR, VDI & ZAL

For more info see Homepage: Prof. Wilczek