b'78 INDUSTRY INSIDERAre You Ready for Electric Aviation?Electric aircraft and hydrogenprovide up to multiple megawatts of technologies are on theelectric power per aircraft. This is not aGal Le Bris, C.M., horizon. Several prototypesminor challenge for airports, especiallyP.E. is a senior have flown over the past few years. Thesmaller general aviation facilities.aviation planner first certifications of fuel-cell electricTechnically speaking, implementingand senior technical principal with WSP aircraft with less than 20 seats for airthese electric aircraft chargers isUSA who holds two taxi operations or regional flights may becomparable to installing 400Hz groundmasters degrees complete by the end of 2022. In 10 yearssupport power units. To address thisin aviation. He or so, these aircraft could account for updemand and ensure resiliency, airportssupervises aviation to 5% of the U.S. fleet. Because electricmight have to get more involved withsystem and airport planning projects, aviation promises lower costs and lead- the supply, distribution and perhapsand provides expertise in aviation free operations, it might also be a pathgeneration of electric power on theirengineering, operations and safety in the to the revival of private aircraft ownershipproperty. Solutions include optimizingU.S. and abroad. Le Bris is a committee and recreational general aviation.existing resources with smart powermember of Airport Consultants Council, Additionally, this is a unique opportunitymanagement, and the development ofSAE International and the Transportation to accelerate the transition of aviationnew capacity with onsite generation via aResearch Board. Recently, he was the principal investigator for ACRP toward carbon-free technologies in ordermicrogrid approach.Research Report 236: Prepare Your to deliver Fly Net Zerothe commitmentFor the larger fuel-cell electric aircraftAirport for Electric Aircraft and Hydrogen of the global aviation industry to achieveprocessing hydrogen that could startTechnologies.net zero emissions by 2050. flying by 2025, aviation-specific supply Electric aircraft will create newchains need to be developed becausethe Aerospace Forecast do not take opportunities for airports. These aerialthis fuel is novel in our industry. Theelectric aircraft and advanced air mobility vehicles are significantly quieter thaninitial needs for gaseous hydrogen might(AAM) into consideration. The AAM conventional aircraft, they have verticalbe addressed using current logisticsCoordination and Leadership Act, which or short takeoff and landing capabilities,solutions (e.g., trucking) or purpose- is under consideration by the Congress, and they produce no carbon emissions.built solutions, such as aircraft-readywould require the U.S. Department of They can access constrained airportscontainers or pods filled at a productionTransportation to create an interagency and turn several general aviation facilitiesplant and delivered to ground handlersworking group to identify opportunities and into small community transportationfor loading into aircraft. In the future, theneeds, propose actions to address the hubs. However, our industry knowsemergence of the hydrogen economyneeds, and support the emergence of AAM that innovative aerospace technologiesserving other usersincluding hydrogento maintain U.S. leadership in aerospace.alone are not enough to make a viablejet and turboprop aircraft that mayOverall, there was a lack of airport-transportation system. The new type ofemerge beyond 2035will warrant thecentered technical literature on these mobility unlocked by electric aviation,creation of mass distribution systemsmatters. The good news is that practice-also known as advanced air mobility,that aviation will benefit from. ready guidance is available in ACRP needs to address airport compatibility,Adapting our airports and aviationResearch Report 236: Prepare Your including capacity and delay,systems to these technologies andAirport for Electric Aircraft and Hydrogen infrastructure and utility development,the new demand they may create willTechnologies. This guidebook from the safety and security, funding, and localrequire investments. Most of the existingTransportation Research Board features community dynamics. funding mechanisms for aviation facilitiesextensive material about accounting forAirports and their stakeholders willdo not provide for the aircraft chargingelectric aircraft in the planning, design need to provide compatible electricinfrastructure, the aviation hydrogenand operations of aviation facilities. It chargers for aircraft. Depending on thesupply chain and vertiport facilities. Also,also includes discussions about policy electric aviation activity and operationalit is noticeable that current versions ofneeds and provides tools for airside and requirements, airports may need tothe FAA Terminal Area Forecast andutility planning. January | February 2022AirportImprovement.com'