Aerospace Summit 2023

There’s certainly plenty of innovation happening in the Aerospace sector right here in Aotearoa, NZ. The second annual Aerospace Summit led by Mark Rocket and the team landed in ōtautahi, Christchurch with the theme of ‘Launching a Sustainable Future’. From carbon zero advanced aviation initiatives to cleaning up space debris, panel discussions covered wide ranging initiatives. Innovative companies including solar-powered Kea Aerospace , green propulsion-powered Dawn Aerospace and electric eVTOL Wisk also showcased the future of sustainability.

Leadership #nzas

Hot on the heels of the release of both our national space policy , and aerospace strategy , Sarah Wiki-Bennett led a robust panel discussion on indigenous leadership in these areas with Linda Falwasser from Tāwhaki Joint Venture , Dr Pauline Harris, Leo Watson and NASA’s Mana Vautier.

Dr Harris was the driving force behind our national Matariki public holiday, and wants to put the Mātauranga Māori into STEMMM. Kaitiakitanga, or guardianship of the environment, is essential. “We whakapapa to all these different realms; responsibility and care, aroha of your whānau and of the environment around you. For contribution to sustainable solutions, you guide yourself by your values and principles. This underpins my research. We’ve always sought knowledge from the land, seas, skies. We’re protecting it as a treasure for the future. It’s all possible.” ?

It is important to see innovation within a cultural lens and provide a network of cultural support, with time for inter-generational impacts. “The sky is not the limit. We can dream big, aim high and shoot for the stars”, added Mana Vautier. Now based in the US, he is an aerospace engineer for NASA and an Ambassador for Pūhoro, the Māori Science Academy based in the Manawatū.

Biotech in space

World leading research coming out of our Universities includes UC’s Dr Sarah Kessans collaboration with Axiom Space . Her microgravity protein crystallography work has also led to a recently announced successful Endeavour research project funding .

Keynote speaker Christian Maender from Axiom Space provided insights into the future of commercial space services. Dr Kessan’s research facility is scheduled to fly on Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) later this year, which will be the third private astronaut mission to the ISS.

Dr Kessans also led a highly engaging panel discussion on the next generation, with sustainability the hot topic. There’s a climate crisis and we need to look after our environment (which was of major concern to the protesters outside the Aerospace Summit event at Te Pae as well!) It is essential that we sort out the growing space debris problem if we want to keep sending new things up into low earth orbit. Information on the space sector needs to be accessible, or people won’t engage constructively if they don’t understand it.

Advanced aviation integration

As a recreational pilot, I'm always keen to understand how airspace integration progresses and the regulatory panel discussions provided some insights into that.

As we move towards carbon zero aviation, there is a disconnect between regulatory thinking and public demand. Sustainable aviation needs to be balanced with safety and security, and aviation is highly regulated due to hard lessons from the past. The big question is, how do we maintain high levels of standards, but also embrace new technologies such as hydrogen fuels and unmanned air taxis and drones over highly populated areas?

Unless sustainability and safety are looked at in the same way, public tolerance for flight will subside. The big challenge for regulators is how to manage the conflicting tensions of public interest and safety outcomes, versus the pace required to enable innovation. We can’t lose sight of things the regulator exists for, but at the same time we need to unlock new technologies and integrate them into the existing environment.

A key part of this process is ensuring the regulator is ready – for example, by putting the licensing system in place to certify eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles). We need to preserve the safety we have without standing in the way of progress. With the complexity increasing across different technologies, it takes a different kind of collaborative working to maintain a level of verification and trust that the way organisations operate will lead to good outcomes.

The CAA’s new Emerging Technologies Unit (ETU) has been set up to collaborate with innovators and help engagement with the regulator. The ETU is looking at an increasing number of applications from Part 146 organisations (aviation system design) and recommends early engagement to resolve the best pathway, with a phased approach to move the technology forward. The ETU also recommends communicating with people who have been there before, such as Wisk. Wisk has chosen ōtautahi, Christchurch to integrate their Gen 5 aircraft under Part 102 (unmanned aircraft certification), with a collaborative risk-based approach to testing alongside Airways and Tāwhaki Joint Ventures.

Airports, airlines and energy providers

Airports are in the energy business as much as the aviation sector now. Sustainability is the biggest crisis facing the Air New Zeland and other airlines - an estimated 20% of flying (international business) generates 80% of emissions. The Q300 fleet replacement is due in 2030 and next-gen aircraft will be phased in from 2026, providing a good way to partner with airports.

Innovation includes electric/hydrogen propulsion, with the dual challenge of developing emerging technologies and also planning infrastructure. Airports of the future need to consider on-site production of energy.

We are the most isolated developed nation in the world, and we need aviation to get around. The risk is we will be carbon tariffed out of our markets if we don't proceed quickly. Our economy depends on trade.

Leadership

SO MANY inspirational conversations and discussions, but the consensus is that the time for action is now. Here in Aotearoa, NZ we need to be leaders as we execute on the aerospace strategy space - let's see how we can continue to build capabilities, and create pathways to impact.