Sustainability 2015 is the inaugural AHS conference devoted to the sustainable design of air vehicles in the vertical flight and fixed-wing aircraft industries, covering the spectrum of environment issues as they affect the air vehicle’s entire life cycle from conceptual design through manufacture, entry into service and end-of-life disposal/recycling.

This Conference is a first in North America. In Europe, the Clean Sky Conference already took place.

The idea of AHS Sustainability 2015 come from Somen Chowdhury, the Conference Technical Chair and James Corrigan –the Conference Administrative Chair two years ago who submitted it to the AHS board in Fairfax, Virginia.

James Corrigan and Somen Chowdhury.

As part of ‘Sustainability 2015’ there was an extensive technical exhibitors’ space comprising large and small-to-medium enterprises offering specialist Design for the Environment (DFE) and sustainability solutions and products. Among exhibitors, there was : Systèmes aéronautiques d’avant-garde pour l’environnement (SA2GE), Groupe aéronautique de recherche et développement en environnement (GARDN), École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), McGill Institute for Aerospace Engineering, Concordia Institute of Aerospace Design and Innovation (CIADI), Université de Montréal’s École polytechnique, Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, Esterline CMC Electronics, Frontline Aerospace, Clean Sky, Consortium de recherche et d’innovation en aérospatiale au Québec / Consortium en aérospatiale pour la recherche et l’innovation au Canada (CRIAQ / CARIC).

AHS Sustainability 2015 was aiming at

• Vertical Lift, Fixed-wing and engine OEM
• Aerospace industry supply chain
• Regulatory authorities
• Environment engineering specialists
• Academia
• Research institutions
• Helicopter and aircraft fleet operators
• Aviation recycling industry

The conference included keynote speakers, panel discussions, invited technical papers and industrial exhibitions.  This meeting was aimed to major airframe and engine OEMs, the aerospace industry supply chain, regulatory authorities, environmental engineering specialists, academia, research institutions, helicopter and aircraft fleet operators and the aviation recycling industry.

The Conference themes were the following :

1. Innovative Air Vehicle Eco-design Concepts
   1. New material technology developments
   2. Aerodynamics advancements
   3. More electric aircraft
2. Eco-design Tool Developments & Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
   1. Enhanced design tools and methodology (including CAD/CAM)
   2. Optimization techniques (MDO)
   3. Aviation life-cycle analysis (LCA) methodology improvements
3. Environmentally-friendly Manufacturing & Green Supply Chain
   1. Manufacturing technology developments
   2. Mnagement of manufacturing and chemical waste (recycling)
   3. Greener aeropsce supply chain (forward & reverse logistics)
4. Powerplant Advancements
   1. Propulsion technology developments
   2. Challenges to retrofitting the existing fleet for sustainability
5. Alternate Fuels & Sustainable Operations
   1. Operational best practices for sustainability
   2. Environmental aspects of maintenance/repair/overhaul (MRO)
   3. Rute optimization technology
   4. End of service life issues (Recycle/reuse/remaufacture/safe disposal)
   5. Greener fuels
6. Noise in the Community
   1. Psychoacoustic aspects of helicopter noise
   2. Noise abatement lessons learned from fixed-wing community

More than 55 papers mostly from North America and Europe were presented by individuals from ONERA, UTIAS, Pratt & Whitney Canada, GeorgiaTech, Bombardier, Ryerson, Bombardier, Bell Helicopter, Turbomeca, Dassault Systèmes, Honeywell, Hydro-Québec, Bristow Helicopters, Metron, Textron Aviation, CAAFI, IISC, ÉTS, McGilll under three categories :

Eco-Design Theme

Tools/Fuel/Operations

Powerplant & Manufacturing

Six panels were held over the Conference three days :

Greener Operations & Design

Community Noise

Alternative Fuels

Additive Manufacturing – Green Perspectives

Sustainability & Corporate Responsability

The View from the Regulators

On the evening of the 23rd was held the AHS Sustainability 2015 Conference Gala Dinner featuring Erik Lindbergh, the grandson of the legendary aviation pioneer, who introduced his foundation ‘Powering Imagination’ which is actively pursuing its own pioneering work in the field of aviation sustainability with the goals of making aviation ‘Clean, Quiet and Exciting’.

Eric Lindbergh.