Sustainable Aviation: Engineering a Green Future

Course Description

"Sustainable Aviation: Engineering a Green Future" is an innovative and comprehensive course offered by DelftX, designed to explore the cutting-edge technologies and solutions for making aviation more environmentally friendly. This course delves into the fascinating world of aerospace engineering, focusing on the critical challenge of reducing aviation's impact on climate change.

What You'll Learn

• Understand the fundamentals of commercial air transport operations and their environmental impact
• Grasp the challenges in making aviation sustainable and their roots in flight principles, propulsion, production, and operation
• Explore current technological possibilities for sustainable aviation and their implementation
• Discuss solutions for reducing aviation's environmental impact on personal and larger scales
• Gain insights into novel aircraft designs, including TU Delft's Flying V project
• Learn about alternative propulsion methods and energy carriers
• Understand the importance of the aviation ecosystem, including manufacturing and operations

Prerequisites

While the course is introductory level, some basic knowledge of university calculus will be beneficial. No other specific prerequisites are required, making it accessible to a wide range of learners interested in sustainable aviation.

Course Content

• Basics of aircraft flight and environmental impact
• Physics of flight: lift, weight, thrust, and drag
• Aircraft propulsion systems and energy carriers
• Sustainable aviation fuels
• Lifecycle assessment of aircraft
• Novel aircraft designs and concepts
• Climate effects of aviation emissions
• Aircraft noise reduction
• Airline planning and operations
• Air traffic management
• Airport operations

Who This Course is For

• Engineering students interested in aerospace and sustainable technologies
• Professionals in the aviation industry seeking to understand sustainability challenges
• Environmental enthusiasts curious about green aviation solutions
• Anyone passionate about combating climate change through technological innovation

Real-World Applications

• Developing innovative solutions for sustainable aviation in research or industry roles
• Implementing eco-friendly practices in existing aviation operations
• Advising on policy decisions related to aviation and environmental regulations
• Educating others about the importance of sustainable aviation
• Contributing to climate action initiatives in the transportation sector

Syllabus