and extending industrial
3. Streamlined systems engineering, design, manufacturing, certification
and upgrade processes have addressed complexity and significantly decreased development costs (including a 50%
reduction in the cost of certification). A leading new generation of standards is created.
Enablers describe what is needed to achieve the goals. Capabilities describe how the goal can be achieved. The general enablers needed to realise the goals asso- ciated with Challenge 2 are as follows.
• the development of technology, its demonstration and flight test: Aviation
vehicles and air transport systems are sophisticated and technologically complex, with ever increasing levels of integration. before a new technology is safely introduced into an aviation product it must undergo rigorous verification and validation. This is achieved by a combination of modelling, simulation, ground testing, such as wind tunnel testing, and flight testing. A new technology, or combination of technologies, could require final testing in an environment close to operations and at full scale, so demonstration and in-flight testing at system level remain essential means to manage these high level risks in the innovation process.
• An efficient development and manufacturing process: The typical development process for an air vehicle, which embeds the results of research into innovative products, engages hundreds of organisations and thousands of individual participants over many years. Greater efficiency in these processes facilitates faster and more frequent introduction of innovative products. To secure this efficiency a seamless integration of design and manufacturing capabilities has been achieved routinely and cooperatively between the stakeholders throughout the whole supply chain.
• Continued and focussed investment:
Europe’s industry ensures that it maintains its critical mass, and improves its leading-edge capabilities and competitiveness through continuous and focused investments in technology research and innovation. The timeframes for these investments are very long-term, typically decades. Europe’s industry is recognised globally for its manufacturing, vehicles, engines, services, airports and a large range of very cost effective and energy efficient products.
• the definition of regulations and stand- ards to create a global level playing field:
A fair and balanced set of regulations and standards has been put in place, which facilitates European aeronautical and air transport leadership and consolidation in the global marketplace.
• Innovative business models, regulations and incentives to accelerate innovation:
A strong and seamless research and innovation supply chain provides a swift and smooth advancement of high-potential innovative ideas to marketable products. Mechanisms are in place that manage the development risk of breakthrough technologies. Small- and medium-sized companies are valuable partners in long- term, strategic research and innovation initiatives. They have affordable access to test facilities to develop and demonstrate innovative technologies (see also Challenge 5). Close cooperation between systems manufacturers and small- and medium- sized companies ensures rapid, widespread application of new technologies as well as a fair share of risks and revenues.
2.3 The enablers to reach
the goals of Flightpath
2050 for Challenge 2
StRAtEgIC RESEARCh & InnovAtIon AgEndA CHALLEnGE 2
62
• Efficient certification of aviation prod- ucts: The European certification process
is streamlined, efficient and low cost. It is widely applied at component, product
and system levels, and capable to antici- pate and adapt to new technologies in the future.
The development of a broad range of vehicle technologies continues to be required to provide the basis of the most innovative, competitive and environmentally friendly aviation products. The environmental goals described in Flightpath 2050 cannot be achieved by simply incrementally enhancing aircraft architectures. Significant performance improvement requires step changes in technology and architecture. The associated research and innovation is performed by original equipment manufacturers (oEMs) and their supply chain sharing the burden of risks appropriately.
Airframe technologies deliver advanced,
aerodynamic vehicle configurations; improved flow and load control (including laminar flow); and, optimised structural designs. new materials and processes are exploited to create lightweight struc- tures. There are new vehicle shapes and innovative configurations that realise the potential for novel power plant integration and active aircraft control.
new emerging rotorcraft configurations
such as compound helicopters and tilt-rotors are available in the short to medium-term. They offer the potential for improved range and speed. new missions that exploit short/vertical take-off and landing (SVToL) flight are possible. These include, for example, extended search and rescue and point-to-point transport missions. These new aircraft contribute significantly to meeting the four hour door- to-door target set by Flightpath 2050.
Improved performance of power plant and propulsion technology is a continuing
theme for research and innovation. Emerging technologies, such as lean burn combustors, geared turbo fans or contra-rotating open rotors, are refined, resulting in optimised performance. new technologies enable innovative propulsion systems, with the potential to exploit novel combustion cycles, ultra-high bypass ratio (uHbR) configurations and the potential of hybrid electric/thermodynamic systems. Innovative aviation systems and equipment
continue to exploit advances made in information systems and communications technology (ICT) to deliver new services, improve efficiency and reduce cost. The optimisation of individual systems continues in parallel with the integration of systems into the airframe. Step-changes in architecture are enabled by new generations of equipment. These step- changes include the more electrical aircraft, optimised energy management, novel control concepts and interconnectivity. There is a trend to increasingly cognisant