Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. After spending several years in the Pacific Northwest, she has returned to the Knoxville area.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

As the aviation industry presses ahead with its sustainability ambitions, developers of electric, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered aircraft are grappling with the fact that new eco-friendly designs cannot deliver the same range, payload, and performance as their traditional gas-guzzling counterparts.&nbsp;
To address this conundrum and make “green” aircraft more competitive, TT Electronics is introducing a suite of high-voltage DC power conversion solutions that the UK-based company says will boost performance by enabling more efficient, longer-duration flights at higher altitudes compared with off-the-shelf components that are available today.&nbsp;TT Electronics announced the high-voltage DC power conversion solution Tuesday at the Farnborough International Airshow.&nbsp;
“What we're seeing in terms of the urban air mobility market and even the civil and military aviation markets now is that our customers are after almost modified off-the-shelf products,” Kevin Littler, head of business development at TT Electronics, told AIN. “They want something that's quick and they don't want to pay a lot of non-recurring engineering costs for it, but they still want it to be suitable for their requirements.&nbsp;
“So, we are developing effectively a set of modular building blocks that can then be used to quickly develop those specific power supplies for our customers.”
While the technology lends itself to urban air mobility vehicles such as eVTOL air taxis, Littler said the goal of AltitudeDC is to fulfill the needs of the civil aviation market. “Civil airliners will require high-voltage DC power conversion and military aircraft are going down that path, too,” he said.
With the push to electrify aircraft, the industry cannot continue to rely on AC power “because the cable weight and cable size would be huge,” Littler said. He explained that the electrification of the automotive industry faced the same issues as more electric ground vehicles have entered the market.&nbsp;
TT Electronics is collaborating with the UK’s Aerospace Technology Institute as well as other industry and academic partners to develop the AltitudeDC portfolio.&nbsp;
Separately, last week TT Electronics announced an expansion of its partnership with Parker Meggitt. The multi-million dollar agreement aims to develop complex electronic assemblies for commercial aircraft braking systems.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

TT Electronics Unveils AltitudeDC Power Converter Solutions

AltitudeDC aims to enhance performance for the next generation of eco-friendly aircraft

TT Electronics introduces AltitudeDC, a suite of high-voltage DC power conversion solutions for the next generation of eco-friendly aircraft. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Manufacturer says solar power is part of efforts to reduce environmental footprint 

Solar Panels Now Power Gulfstream’s Mesa Service Center

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Green Flyways initiative is considering the potential for MD Aircraft's eViator commuter

Partners Trial Electric Air Services in Norway and Sweden

Charlotte Bailey

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

UK’s ‘Operation Blue Skies’ to redirect commercial traffic in Shanwick airspace

North Atlantic Airspace-Scale Contrail Trial Underway

Curt Epstein

Emissions reduction indexes will help contrast economics with compliance mandates

Argus Releases Sustainable Aviation Fuel Evaluation Tool

Government-funded consortium to aims to connect remote communities 

Project SEAN Trials Electric Flights For Scotland

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Shift could come as the state's tax incentives change

Louisiana Could Supplant California as SAF Leader

New three-year campaign will design, build, and fly wing extension devices

WoT? Experimental Elongated Airbus Wings To Fly Next Year

Cristofer Slotoroff

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Farnborough Airshow 2024

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