Innovation is a word often heard today. I searched an online dictionary to better understand the definition: something new or different, or the introduction of new things or methods. This month we highlight a few different aviation and aerospace activities that capture the sense of innovation in our industry.
In April I was invited to participate in Aero Montreal’s Aerospace Innovation Forum 2016. Given the title of this event, Innovation Forum, I wondered what kinds of innovation I would see. Needless to say, I learned a lot about the size of the Quebec Aerospace Cluster and some interesting technologies, but more over how the initiatives of Aero Montreal support long-term growth of the aerospace community in this region. Needless to say, the title of the forum was accurate.
The development of an unleaded avgas for use in piston engine powered aircraft has been a topic of discussion, and to some a concern, for years. The FAA announced earlier this year that two formulas had been chosen for further tests this summer at FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center. Once successful completion of this testing is accomplished, indications are a new unleaded avgas just might be available to the market in a few years.
The use of Information Technology (IT) has been part of how we manage aircraft maintenance and business for some time and is not really new. However, use of The Cloud for storage and access to information appears to be a next step in aircraft maintenance IT solutions, providing maintainers real-time access to current maintenance data from most any location.
Take a look in the cockpit, cabin, or under the engine cowl of most any new aircraft today and you’ll rapidly see how the world around us has become more electric. One such electric innovation that caught our attention was a hybrid electric powertrain project, designed to deliver the power equivalent to a typical general aviation piston engine and can run in three modes: only electric on batteries, generator-only, or hybrid mode combining both power sources.
General Aviation manufacturers today work tirelessly to bring innovative products to market designed to enhance safety in the operation of GA aircraft. Industry organizations such as GAMA have been a driving force to streamline certification standards in the United States and abroad intended to relieve some of the burden associated with bringing new safety products to market.
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh has always been a hotbed of ideas and innovations for the general aviation community. If you have never attended I encourage you to do so. The spirt of innovation has been part of EAA since its beginning. This month aviators from around the world will again celebrate that spirit in Oshkosh, WI.
Ron
