Aerospace Ambition Podcast

Get the latest insights from the AAMBITION Podcast delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe HERE.++++Episode 42 of the “Aerospace Ambition Podcast” featuring Prof. Ulrich Schumann (DLR) is out!Talking PointsInfluential Mentors and Career Journey: Ulrich reflects on formative mentorships, including ties to Werner Heisenberg, and a career spanning fluid dynamics, turbulence, and contrail science.Contrail Science Essentials: An accessible explanation of contrail formation, persistence, and their climate impact, including the Schmidt Appleman Criterion and radiative effects.Advances in Contrail Research: Key milestones in understanding contrails, evolving public discourse on aviation’s non-CO2 effects, and debates shaped by influential studies.Contrail Prediction Models: Insights into CoCiP’s framework, integration with pycontrails, and advancements through observational datasets and modeling techniques.Future of Contrail Management: Exploring bold visions for contrail mitigation, trial strategies, and the role of contrail science in sustainable aviation.GuestProf. Dr. Ulrich Schumann is a world leading expert in atmospheric physics. He earned his doctorate in Turbulence in 1973, was Director of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at DLR the German Aerospace Center from 1982 until 2012, and now lectures on aviation climate impact at Technical University Munich.Professor Schumann is widely known for his seminal works on contrail science, contributing to the 1999 IPCC report and developing the contrail cirrus prediction tool CoCiP. He has also cooperated on various aviation research projects with the FAA, EUROCONTROL, NATS, ECMWF, airlines and engine industry.

Get the latest insights from the AAMBITION Podcast delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe HERE.++++Episode 41 of the “Aerospace Ambition Podcast” featuring Dr Regina Pouzolz (Deutsche Aircraft) is out!Talking PointsWhat makes the regional aviation market unique, and how does it shape Deutsche Aircraft’s focus?Why has Deutsche Aircraft chosen e-kerosene for its D328-eco turboprop over alternatives like hydrogen or battery-electric solutions?What were the key findings from the Climart project about contrail formation with "non-drop-in fossil kerosene"?How important are fuel standards like those set by ASTM for advancing sustainable aviation technologies?What are the biggest technical and regulatory challenges in bringing the D328-eco to market, and how is Deutsche Aircraft addressing them?GuestRegina has nearly two decades of experience in aerospace and a passion for minimizing aviation's environmental footprint. She previously worked at Airbus’ Future Projects Office in Toulouse and as a Senior Consultant at McKinsey. Later, at MTU Aero Engines, Regina played a pivotal role in integrating climate impact assessments into the evaluation of future engine concepts. She now is the Director of Sustainable Flight at Deutsche Aircraft.

Get the latest insights from the AAMBITION Podcast delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe HERE.++++Episode 40 of the “Aerospace Ambition Podcast” featuring Dr Alexandru Rap (University of Leeds) is out!Talking PointsKey drivers of aviation's climate impact: CO₂, contrails, NOₓ, and their interactionsContrail formation factors: humidity, engine efficiency, and soot emissionsAdvances in modelling persistent contrails and mitigating their warming effectsFuel innovations: reducing soot with bio-kerosene, e-kerosene, and hydrotreatingHydrogen aviation's potential: increased water vapour vs reduced soot emissionsLessons from military aviation on contrail avoidance for climate mitigationGuestAlex is an Associate Professor in Atmospheric Science at the University of Leeds’ School of Earth and Environment. Two of his many areas of expertise are aviation’s climate impact and contrail parameterisations for climate models. He led his university’s work for the ATI that is the UK Aerospace Technology institute, as part of the FlyZero program and is now working with Airbus and Rolls-Royce on the Contrails Assessment for future aircraft and propulsion architectures and aerosol cloud interactions.

Get the latest insights from the AAMBITION Podcast delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe HERE.++++Episode 39 of the “Aerospace Ambition Podcast” featuring Maxime Gariel (Joby Aviation) and Irina Muntean (Technical University of Munich) is out!Talking PointsHow did Maxime’s role change when Xwing was acquired by Joby?Why invest in eVTOLs when helicopters already exist?From a technical perspective, could aircraft fly autonomously today, even without full regulatory approval?How far along is Joby in developing autonomous capabilities for its aircraft, and what are the biggest technological challenges to achieving full autonomy in urban air mobility?How does Joby leverage AI-driven technologies to enhance navigation, obstacle detection, and real-time decision-making in its autonomous systems?GuestMaxime is a leader in autonomous flight. He has started his career with internships at NASA, earned a PhD from Georgia Tech, and then did post-doctoral research at MIT, all of which in the field of aviation. After MIT, he worked at Rockwell Collins and later co-founded X-Wing in 2016, where he was president and CTO. X-Wing develops modular autonomy technology, which makes any aircraft capable of flying autonomously. This summer, X-Wing was acquired by Joby Aviation and Maxime now leads their autonomy team.

Get the latest insights from the AAMBITION Podcast delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe HERE.++++Episode 38 of the “Aerospace Ambition Podcast” featuring Frank Opel (PACE) is out!Talking PointsWhy is contrail management still seen as less urgent compared to other sustainability measures, despite its potential for immediate climate impact?As airlines explore contrail management, is real-time tactical adjustment more practical than pre-tactical strategic planning?Is competition between companies accelerating innovation in sustainable aviation technologies, or does it create unnecessary challenges?What role does reliable data linkage and forecasting accuracy play in executing effective contrail management strategies?How do airlines overcome technological and financial hurdles to adopt real-time flight optimization tools?What future advancements, such as better forecasting models or onboard humidity sensors, could enhance contrail management solutions?Where does contrail management sit on the Gartner Hype Cycle for emerging technologies in aviation?GuestFrank is a seasoned expert in flight operations and aviation technology. Frank's career spans nearly 12 years at PACE, where he has steadily worked his way up to become the Director of the Flight Operations Line of Business. His journey began with a strong academic foundation, earning both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Aviation Engineering and Aviation Logistics from Technische Hochschule Wildau. For his final thesis, he collaborated with DLR to delve into flight testing and simulation, an experience that set the stage for his later achievements.Resourceshttps://sponsored.bloomberg.com/article/google-sustainability/ai-is-helping-mitigate-aviations-climate-impact