SUSTAINair - circular economy for the aviation and aerospace sectors

4R´s of circular economy: Redesign, Repair, Reuse, Recycle

The waste of high-quality, aerospace-grade materials is one of the biggest challenges to sustainable aerospace engineering. SUSTAINair applies circular economy principles to the design, manufacturing, operations and end-of-life phases of aircraft. This includes:

  • Circular design of individual components and joining technologies for airframe construction (including morphing)
  • Real-time structural health monitoring of materials and joints during operations
  • Improved maintenance and repair technologies to extend aircraft life time
  • Rivet removal demonstrator using robotics and water jet cutting for improved recovery of high-quality aluminium recycling materials

Welcome to the SUSTAINair project – enabling green transition of the aviation and aerospace sectors. 

SOLUTIONS FOR CIRCULAR AVIATION

The SUSTAINair project gives the aviation sector a transition runway to a low-carbon, competitive economy while tackling the increase in resource consumption, waste and emissions along the entire aviation component value chain. 

Explore circular approach to different stages of aircraft life-cycle by clicking on the stage of interest.

Integration of novel sensors enabling real-time, onboard damage diagnosis and prognosis (SHM)

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Economically viable automated aircraft fuselage dismantling and material separation

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Novel techniques to re-use aluminium, titanium-based powders for metal 3D printing, thermoset prepreg and thermoplast production waste, automatized separation of alloys.

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Joining and repair technologies for similar and dissimilar aerospace grade material combinations.

Closing the gap between material purchased and material used: buy-to-fly ratio

Cost saving through zero-waste assembly

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Lightweight design meets up-and recyclable materials and embedded functionalities for real-time structural health monitoring.

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SUSTAINair SOLUTIONS FOR CIRCULAR AVIATION

The SUSTAINair project gives the aviation sector a runway to transition into a low-carbon competitive economy while tackling the increase in resource consumption, waste and emissions in industries along the entire aviation component value chain

CREW

H2020 PROJECT SUSTAINair

SUSTAINablility increase of lightweight, multifunctional and intelligent airframe and engine parts

Jan 2021
Aug 2022
Dec 2023
Dec 2023
June 2024
June 2024
START
Testing phase
Database with test results
Life Cycle Analysis
DEMO
END

COORDINATOR

The SUSTAINair project is coordinated by AIT-LKR (Austria).

FUNDING

The SUSTAINair project is funded by the H2020 programme, under EU.3.4. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Smart, Green And Integrated Transport, as a RIA - Research and Innovation action.

PROJECT PARTNERS

The SUSTAINair project is collaboration of 11 partners from industry and academia.

WHAT'S NEW

SUSTAINair to join CINEA Workshop at 13th EASN International Conference

SUSTAINair to join CINEA Workshop at 13th EASN International Conference

The team at SUSTAINair are thrilled to announce their participation in the 13th EASN International Conference on “Innovation in Aviation & Space…
SUSTAINAir Consortium Members Publish New Journal Article on Plasma Synthesis

SUSTAINAir Consortium Members Publish New Journal Article on Plasma Synthesis

Members of the SUSTAINair consortium have just published a new open access article on the topic of using plasma synthesis…
A Brief Introduction to AELS and the Art of Aircraft Disassembly

A Brief Introduction to AELS and the Art of Aircraft Disassembly

Founded in 2006, Dutch company AELS (Aircraft End-of-Life Solutions) has been buying end-of-life Boeing and Airbus aircraft that the company…
Out Now: 3rd SUSTAINair Newsletter

Out Now: 3rd SUSTAINair Newsletter

Read the 3rd edition of the SUSTAINair project newsletter