Market and Technological Perspectives for the New Generation of Regional Passenger Aircraft

Abstract

This article describes the extent to which hybrid aircraft and all-electric aircraft can present a solution for reducing HC, CO, and NOx emissions and noise in the vicinity of airports, in the category of regional passenger aircraft. The goal of the article is to identify, basing on aircraft technical characteristics and market demands, in which sectors of air transport can all-electric or hybrid aircraft be most feasibly introduced. Firstly, a simple theoretical model based on a connection between the aircraft mass and aircraft energy consumption is used to calculate basic technical characteristics and limitations of hybrid and all-electric aircraft. Second, market demands for regional aircraft are presented and discussed, with the intention of recognising the possibilities of replacing conventional aircraft with all-electric and hybrid aircraft models in regional air transport in the near future. Third, quantity of HC, CO, and NOx, CO gas emissions of regional aircraft in Europe was calculated to recognise the possible reduction of gas emissions if hybrid and all-electric aircraft would be implemented.