Life Cycle Engineering of future aircraft systems

This paper introduces the first steps towards a general modelling framework for the integrated life cycle engineering (LCE) of future air transportation systems. The focus of analysis lies on the potential environmental implications of batteries powering electric vertical takeoff and landing aircrafts (eVTOLs), which have emerged as an option for urban air mobility to alleviate automobile traffic in cities. The impact of main influencing factors on the sustainability of eVTOLs is discussed, presenting the main modelling requirements for an LCE framework to accompany the transition towards a more sustainable air mobility.