“This is what the planes of the future will be like: more sustainable and with a digital passport”
Dr. Andrea Calvo-Echenique, the GENEX coordinator and R&D engineer from the Aragon Institute of Technology (ITA), shared insights into the future of sustainable aviation, emphasizing the critical role of weight reduction in improving fuel efficiency and lowering CO₂ emissions. The industry is increasingly turning to lightweight, recyclable composite materials—such as carbon fiber—which can reduce aircraft weight by up to 40% while maintaining structural strength. However, these materials pose challenges, including the need to automate traditionally manual manufacturing processes and the difficulty of detecting damage, which is often invisible in composites. To address these issues, the engineer highlighted the importance of digitalizing the entire lifecycle of aircraft structures—from design and manufacturing to monitoring and repair. This digital transformation, including innovations like the "digital passport," is essential for enhancing both energy efficiency and safety in next-generation aviation.
Published article here and the corresponding video.
