Strategy for 19-seat hybrid-electric short haul air transportation

Abstract

This paper addresses a way to implement greener aviation technologies, such as hybrid-electric propulsion, into the air transportation network to respond to the increasing environmental challenges posed by growing air traffic. New routes could be established between small airports to ensure better air connectivity in Europe while also connecting disadvantaged areas and relieve congestion at hub airports. Such routes could, for example, be served by micro feeder or 19-seat hybrid-electric aircraft, which produce low or no emissions, have lower operating costs, and are more applicable to environmental constraints. To achieve this and overcome the various challenges posed by the new hybrid-electric technologies, a new strategic roadmap for short-haul air transport is needed to optimize network services with small hybrid-electric aircraft.

Technology readiness assessment and performance forecast on a 19 seats E-STOL EIS 2032

“…Long Range Cruise Speed >170 KTAS @ 97%MTOW 10000 ft Max Cruise Speed 230 KTAS @ 97%MTOW 10000 ft Climb [97%MTOW] > 600 fpm @ SL, ISA, OEI > 2150 fpm @ SL, ISA, AEO Take-off and landing fields length TOFF: < 800 m [@ MTOW, SL, ISA], LND: < 780 m [@ MLW, SL, ISA] External Noise ICAO chapter 10 -10db The most common range offered by 19-seat aircraft is about 200NM and this matches the connectivity goal, then outlying the opportunities of a 19-seat hybrid-electric aircraft, because of their characteristics to have low operating costs and short take-off and landing capabilities. These characteristics should come alongside with zero or low CO2 and NOx emissions, so opening their deployment on under-utilized airports in urban areas, near city centres [2].…”