The Future Aerospace Transportation System: Connecting A Post COVID-19 World
A special issue of Aerospace (ISSN 2226-4310). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Traffic and Transportation".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 6059
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
While the general public regarded air transport pre-COVID-19 as status quo or even stagnant, great research “behind the scenes” has been going on to push the literal and figurative envelope of aviation. In a post COVID-19 world with significant concerns about climate change, traditional air transport does not have a positive image. As such, the multi-year long recovery of aviation will be intimately coupled with major evolution and revolution. Recent news about United Airline’s agreement with Boom Supersonic, who are partnering Prometheus Fuels, is a great example. Commercial suborbital space tourism has finally “arrived” with both Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin having had their inaugural launches this year. Similarly, the prospect of point-to-point orbital transportation is one step closer given that SpaceX has launched multiple manned missions to orbit. In remote or autonomously piloted aviation, it has been 15 years since the FAA created the first commercial drone permit and DJI was founded. While the use of RPAS in aerial work is an everyday reality, we are on the cusp of the next revolution in air travel with Personal Air Vehicles and Urban Air Mobility. All of these facets of aerospace travel are supported by multidisciplinary technologies. The digital transformation happening across all industries is key to the future aerospace transportation system. Big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data-driven decision making, blockchain, the Internet of Things, smart systems, mixed/immersive realities, and many more aspects of the digital revolution will influence all parts of air transport.
In the future, aerospace transportation systems will focus on intermodal transport, requiring ground transport links to support innovation. The aerospace ports of the future will involve “conventional” aircraft, PAV/UAM, and potentially spacecraft; these will be in new and different locations, demanding novel land and airspace integration. Inside these aerospace ports will also be radically different; flow, form, function, and freedom of movement will be enabled by intelligent systems driven by AI. Aircraft revolutions will include electrification, faster speeds, alternative fuels, novel designs and structures, new materials and so on, all of which will improve economic and environmental sustainability. It is hoped that this Special Issue will explore the following broad research questions:
- What will future aerospace transportation systems encompass, and how will this be moderated by passenger demand and public opinion?
- How will humans and technology interact and integrate in future aerospace transportation systems on the ground and in the air?
- What enabling systems and technologies will help aid in the recovery and revolution of air travel post COVID-19?
- How will the digital revolution help to support and grow the economic and environmental sustainability of aviation?
Dr. Graham Wild
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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