Method to Model the Environmental Impacts of Aircraft Cabin Configurations during the Operational Phase

Abstract

The entire aircraft industry is facing major challenges due to the formulated targets to reduce environmental emissions. For decision-makers, it is therefore of great importance to be able to compare the environmental impact of aircrafts. This includes the impact assessment of different aircraft-cabin configurations. Based on this motivation, this paper proposes a dynamic method for calculating those environmental impacts. To ensure a straightforward application, the method allows for the cabin configuration with the main cabin components. In addition, a specific mission profile can be defined and is considered in the calculations. The method follows the standardized life-cycle assessment framework. The first application of the method showed that there were large differences in the environmental impacts depending on the cabin configuration and that airlines can contribute to the achievement of sustainability goals with optimized cabin layouts.

Electrical Distribution System LCA for Future Regional Aircraft—Preliminary Definition of Methodology

“…Cradle-to-gate [11] is an assessment of a partial product life cycle from resource extraction (cradle) to the gate of the factory (i.e., before it is transported to the consumer), including packaging. Gate-to-gate [12] is a partial LCA method, looking at only specific unit operations in the entire production chain.…”