Civil Aeronautics commission

1- AIMS

The Civil Aeronautics commission (CAC) conducts foresight reflection in the field of European (and global) civil aviation *, leading to the development of appropriate recommendations for the responsible entities concerned.

* including all actors contributing to the development and operations of civil aviation: researchers, operators, manufacturers, air traffic control, service providers and corresponding authorities.

2- THEMES AS OF MARCH 12, 2018

2.1 Theme 1: Continuation of work on more automated aviation by 2050

• Sub-theme 1.1: Sharing of tasks, responsibilities and authority between air transport players

Continuation of the work in Dossier No.42 relative to ongoing, likely and possible changes in the roles of the various players, whether on the ground or on board, human or machine. The result should include an overall view of the system taking into account possible changes to onboard and ground-based systems and ground-to-air connections, R & D questions, regulatory issues, as well as possible recommendations for stakeholders.

• Sub-theme 1.2 : Changing skills required in the future

Air transport is a vast, increasingly complex system of systems relying on a range of professions operating in very different contexts, with multiple interfaces. Under the effect of the digital revolution, these professions will evolve in coming decades towards what we will define as functions. These new functions should be compatible with each other and prepared with all necessary anticipation and attention to avoid damaging pitfalls. The aim of this sub-theme is to clear the ground for these developments and make recommendations for those involved in training for future aeronautics functions. Reflections concern all players, whether on the ground (OCC, dispatch, air navigation management, meteorology, airport, industrial, maintenance…) or on board.

• Sub-theme 1.3: Dealing with “unexpected/unforeseen” events during air transport missions

During missions various types of unexpected events occur. Exogenous or endogenous to the aircraft, they are mostly taken into account by operators, thus enabling the mission to continue. In order to lighten the task of the human, might there be automatic reconfiguration and assistance modes to correct a maximum number? (Like the save button or envelope protections on fighter planes).

Approach:

a) examples of unexpected / unforeseen events that may occur during operation,

b) identification of possible methods of solving a maximum of cases.

• Sub-theme 1.4 : Application of SPO (Single Pilot Operations) to an ATR type aircraft

Given the number of passengers transported, making the evolution more easily justifiable, and the interest shown by the CEO of ATR, this first application deserves a special study.

2.2 Theme 2: Feasibility of planned supersonic business aircraft :

There has been much media coverage of various proposals for the development of supersonic transport aircraft. This study consists of a critical analysis of the feasibility of these aircraft by drawing on the experience of concrete achievements and advanced studies carried out in Europe for decades.

2.3 Theme 3: Viability of small all-electric and hybrid aerial vehicles :

In the present state of electricity storage technologies, projects concerning medium-haul, regional and even short-haul aircraft are barely conceivable. At the most, small, low-autonomy air vehicles are conceivable for ad hoc markets. It is proposed to study briefly two types of vehicles: the first is a ULM type with a maximum weight of 450 kg, certifiable under existing regulations ; the second type would be heavier, between 1 t and 1.5 t.