Martin O'Connell, Managing Director - Martin O’Connell Associates

2. • The design life of the project is 25 years (2025-2050)
• What technology will exist over this design life do you think will exist
in the future to reduce GHG emissions and meet the Net Zero by
2050 target?
• How do you think aircraft will look and how will airlines change the
way they operate to meet the Net Zero by 2050 target?

3. • URBAN ELECTRIFICATION OF AIR TAXIS
➢ Good for about 75km
➢ Less than ten passengers
➢ Noise issues a large concern
• ELECTRIFICATION IN REGIONAL AIRLINER
➢ Short haul routes under 1000km with circa 100 passengers
➢ Battery energy density is nowhere near what is required for large or long-haul routes and
➢ Won’t be for decades. Major hurdle.
• HYBRID AIRLINERS
➢ Gas turbine generator charging a battery which in turn powers external fans
➢ Airbus and Rolls Royce already abandoned this concept

4. • HYDROGEN POWER
➢ Quite interesting and has the capability to power 737-sized airliners
➢ Requires proportionally large storage volume for cryogenic propellants in flight
➢ completely new fuel supply infrastructure is required on the ground.
➢ Safety is a massive issue and the production of hydrogen is carbon intensive. Airbus pursuing this for the moment.
• AMMONIA FUEL
➢ Passing NH3 over a catalyst will split it into Hydrogen and Nitrogen. Then combust the hydrogen.
➢ Exhaust = water vapor.
• BIOFUEL
➢ Ethically questionable and can’t produce enough to satisfy demand.
➢ Expensive but can be blended with Jet A1 as a hybrid fuel.
• INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS through design improvements to existing airliners.
➢ Ongoing project in Boeing. Useful but not game changing.
• BLENDED WING DESIGNS as opposed to traditional “tube and wing” concepts.
➢ Would offer a step-change in efficiencies with existing fuels.

5. RAF Marham F35 Testimonial
“I worked with Martin on a very complex RAF project.
Martin was the lead design manager overseeing a
multi discipline structure. Martin shows great
leadership qualities which were evident in the way the
whole design process was structured and implemented.
The team ethos that Martin built was true testament to
his passion in the construction industry.
It has been a real pleasure working with Martin and
look forward to work on the next challenging project
again.”
Rob Anderson
Senior Project Manager at Imtech Engineering Services
t: +44 7876 616 819
e: martin@martinoconnell.co.uk
w: www.martinoconnell.co.uk
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