Platform System Design
Sustainability and Environment
Flight Operations and Certification
07 April 2022
Maiden flight of Clean Sky 2’s scaled flight demonstrator
On 30 March 2022, the maiden flight of a scaled version of a single-aisle aircraft, known as the Scaled Flight Demonstrator (SFD), took place. Under the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking, co-funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme and private industry, stakeholders will use the SFD to test and mature disruptive technologies that will enable significant reductions in energy consumption. The flight took place in Deelen (NL) and lasted 9 minutes, achieving a height of 400 metres (1,400 feet).
Sustainability and Environment
05 April 2022
Investigating the commercial potential of battery electric aviation
Electric aircraft offer many advantages, but will they ever be able to compete on cost? As the world slowly recovers from COVID-19, the aviation sector is also expected to regain its former strength. Nevertheless, the pandemic has created a new focus on sustainability, and changes are expected in the post-COVID aviation fleet, such as fewer old-generation aircraft. The total aviation CO2 emissions calculated for each kilometre a passenger travels are not expected to change significantly soon, though, and total CO2 emissions may easily return to their 2019 levels.
Flight Operations and Certification
Sustainability and Environment
02 March 2022
Electric flight achievable in the Netherlands by 2026
Electrification of small-scale short-haul flights in the Netherlands is achievable. The first electrically powered flights, for nine passengers, could be certified and available on the short-haul market by 2026. That would make it possible to take an important step towards making aviation more sustainable. That is the result of a study carried out by NACO/Royal HaskoningDHV with Royal NLR on instructions from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The study has recently been present to the Dutch parliament.
Sustainability and Environment
16 February 2022
Sustainable challenges for Brussels
The Member of the European Parliament Caroline Nagtegaal talked to Royal NLR about the challenges in aviation. The climate challenge does not stop at national borders. It is a complex issue that concerns the whole of Europe. A lot needs to be done outside the aviation sector too to make the continent climate-neutral by 2050.
Sustainability and Environment
08 February 2022
Circular economy gradually finding its way in the aviation sector
This is the Week of the Circular Economy in the Netherlands. During last year’s edition, NLR organised a webinar and, together with its partners, NLR has been up to a lot since then. Connections were made with like-minded organisations and NLR incorporated the concept of circular aviation in its new Climate-Neutral Aviation programme. However, many more circular practices still need to be included.
Sustainability and Environment
24 January 2022
Technology Base and Royal NLR commit to Twente Airport for innovative and sustainable aviation
Technology Base Business Campus and Royal NLR are intensifying their cooperation to further develop opportunities at Twente Airport as a test and innovation airport. On behalf of NLR and Technology Base, in January two contracts have been signed that start to implement this. This involves a multi-year lease for office and work space on behalf of NLR and a cooperation contract giving Twente Airport access to NLR's premium knowledge and expertise. Both parties view the opportunities that the transition in aviation offers Twente Airport as contributing to sustainable aviation.
Sustainability and Environment
21 December 2021
Flying liquid hydrogen – the 2021 update
At the beginning of 2021 NLR initiated an ambitious project with a view to flying its HYDRA-2 drone using liquid hydrogen in a full composite tank by the end of 2022. As the end of this year approaches, the NLR project team looks back at the challenges faced and celebrates its achievements.