“…Decarbonising flight will require a range of solutions, including new fuel types and innovative technologies. Some will bring radical changes, while others offer more incremental gains. Karim Mokaddem, Airbus Head of Electrification, describes the different ways hybrid-electric power can benefit fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter solutions.
The electrification of flight has accelerated rapidly in recent years, from the development of electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) for urban air travel to smaller fixed-wing aircraft that carry up to nine passengers. However, the technology’s leap to commercial aircraft has been beset by slower-than-expected progress.
As a veteran of the automotive industry, Karim Mokaddem has seen first-hand the rapid progress made in battery-electric power in recent years. The aviation industry may face different challenges, but he believes the time is right for hybrid-electric innovation to make its mark on commercial aircraft operations and beyond...”