The ‘hangar of the future’ for sustainable aviation

Date published

2024-11

Free to read from

2025-03-25

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Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Department

Type

Article

ISSN

0001-9240

Format

Citation

Plastropoulos A, Fan I-S, Avdelidis NP, et al., (2024) The ‘hangar of the future’ for sustainable aviation. The Aeronautical Journal, Volume 128, Issue 1329, November 2024, pp. 2429-2450.

Abstract

Sustainability is becoming a major strategic driver within the aviation industry, which has moved from providing primarily economic benefits to delivering the ‘triple bottom line’, including social and environmental impact as well as financial performance. Sustainable aviation is also being tracked by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Global Collation for Sustainable Aviation. Operations and Infrastructure is an important near-term opportunity to deliver sustainability benefits. Digital Technologies, Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) and Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) play a prominent role in implementing these benefits, with a particular focus on operational efficiencies. As part of this, the sustainable smart hangar of the future is a concept that is becoming more and more important in forming the future of the aviation industry. The Hangar of the Future is an excellent opportunity for innovation, combining the progress in manufacturing, materials, robotics and artificial intelligence technologies. Succeeding in developing a hangar with these characteristics will provide us with potential benefits ranging from reduced downtime and costs to improved safety and environmental impact. This work explores some of the key features related to the sustainable smart hangar of the future by discussing research that takes place in DARTeC’s (Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre) hangar led by the IVHM Centre in Cranfield. Additionally, the paper touches on some longer-term aspirations.

Description

Software Description

Software Language

Github

Keywords

smart hangar, hangar of the future, aircraft maintenance, MRO, IVHM, Industry 4.0, Industry 5.0, NDT, robotics, 40 Engineering, 3505 Human Resources and Industrial Relations, 35 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services, Aerospace & Aeronautics, 35 Commerce, management, tourism and services, 40 Engineering

DOI

Rights

Attribution 4.0 International

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Relationships

Resources

Funder/s

The Hangar of the Future at Cranfield University is part of the Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC). The DARTeC project received support from the UK Research and Innovation Research Partnership Infrastructure Fund. The DARTeC consortium includes Cranfield University, Heathrow Airport, Cranfield IVHM Centre, Research England, Boeing, BOXARR, the Connected Places Catapult, Etihad Airways, Inmarsat, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Saab, the Satellite Applications Catapult, Spirent Communications, OSL Technology and Thales