Revamping the Runway: Enhancing Short Haul Commercial Aviation

Abstract

Short flights make up the majority of air travel and are less efficient per passenger-kilometer. These flights can be enhanced through three main categories: increasing the payload and capacity, implementing an innovative wing and fuselage design, and using alternative fuel sources. First, this paper will discuss three ways to increase the payload and passenger capacity: redesigning seats, removing certain auxiliary equipment, and implementing an alternative alloy to replace the traditional aluminum alloy. Second, it will explore the experimental blended wing body design and its promising technology. Lastly, it will discuss two alternative fuels to conventional jet fuel: nuclear and hydrogen power. It will state both the advantages and disadvantages of each source of power and their impact upon the aircraft’s structure. In addition, this paper will conduct simulations using CAD software and compare the results of the enhanced aircraft and a standard commercial aircraft. This paper ignores the constraints of the real world, such as prices of manufacturing and cost-benefit outcomes. It is a theoretical solution to improving the short haul industry that can be implemented in the near future.