Aviation Silicon Schoenhagen

The Schoenhagen airfield south of Berlin could become for civil aviation what Silicon Valley is for the USA. In a miniature format, of course, but no less innovative. Preparations are
being made here to transform aviation from a traditional to a climate-neutral and quiet industry – both with regard to passenger as well as to cargo aircraft. Another research focus is the
creation of CO2-neutral airports. This is what leading aviation experts came together to discuss last week in Schoenhagen, near Berlin.

Aviation needs transformation urge (from l to r): Torsten Jueling, Cargo Chief Berlin Airports / Hugo Duchemin, MD Comworxx / Patrick Muller, SVP Ops BER / Klaus-Jürgen Schwahn, Chief Schoenhagen Airpt. / Andreas Timmermann, Head of BBAA – photo: hs/CFG
Aviation needs transformation urge (from l to r): Torsten Jueling, Cargo Chief Berlin Airports / Hugo Duchemin, MD Comworxx / Patrick Muller, SVP Ops BER / Klaus-Jürgen Schwahn, Chief Schoenhagen Airpt. / Andreas Timmermann, Head of BBAA – photo: hs/CFG

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Large asparagus fields and lush green meadows are located to the left and right of the federal highway 246, which crosses eastern Germany from west to east. Evidently a fertile area. Then a sharp
turn to the right and you stand in front of the administration building of Schoenhagen Airport, 90 years old, and located about 35 km southwest of the large BER airport in the state of
Brandenburg.

 

Small airport, large goals
What has been happening for some time now in this historic area is also very fruitful. For example, research is being carried out on the development of low-emission flying in close cooperation
with large companies such as the engine manufacturer, Rolls Royce. And not just with this world-famous company. There are 6 different aircraft manufacturers on board, all of which are based in
Brandenburg and some of which, Aquila Aviation International, RS Aero, and Cirrus Aircraft, for example, also have branches on the airport grounds of Schoenhagen. In addition, companies such as
Avionics specialist ASE, electronics specialist Rhode, as well as service providers and research institutions, like the European Aviation Security Center and the Wildau Technical University, are
also involved. A total of 41 different companies have settled on the airport premises or have a representative office there.

Climate neutrality is at the top of the agenda
Climate neutrality is at the top of the agenda

Climate neutrality is at the top of the agenda
The Berlin-Brandenburg Aerospace Alliance (BBAA) coordinates a wide range of research and development activities. It is an association led by Professor Andreas Timmermann, which combines the
interests of the regional aerospace industry, whose members network with key people from the worlds of business, science, and politics and – their most important task – drive innovation.
A core topic of the cluster, which has its nucleus in Schoenhagen, is the experimentation with synthetic fuels to reduce CO2 emissions in air transport. “We even want reduce greenhouse gas
emissions to zero,
” he says, setting BBAA’s ambitious target for Schoenhagen.

Hydrogen production on site
While he says this, he points to the end of the runway and the approach area with the approach lighting. “The ideal area for the construction of a 12-hectare photo voltaic system, in order to
obtain hydrogen by electrolysis using solar energy. The approval process for the construction of the solar park is already underway,
” explains Dr. Klaus-Jürgen Schwahn, Head of the airport.
Technically, too, the course has been set and the first tests have been completed. A location was found for an electrolyzer to convert power to gas. The advantage of this project, which focuses
on local conditions, is: The hydrogen produced on site can be used to directly fuel aircraft servicing Schoenhagen or to produce synthetic fuel, whatever is needed. The liquefied gas does not
need to be transported over long distances from production to the user, which in turn would cause CO2 emissions. It is an important building block on Schoenhagen’s path to CO2 neutrality.

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Concept study APUS i-5 Cargo: Operating hydrogen or electrically powered freighters such as the APUS i-5 stands high on BBAA’s agenda – courtesy APUS
Concept study APUS i-5 Cargo: Operating hydrogen or electrically powered freighters such as the APUS i-5 stands high on BBAA’s agenda – courtesy APUS

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70% of all flight movements involve small aircraft
This is the official figure for Germany. In France, Spain, or Scandinavia, the relationship between commercial aviation and private aviation is likely to be very similar. In Schoenhagen, the
hangars are full of planes bearing the brands Pilatus, Diamond, Daher, Cessna, Piper, and other manufacturers. Thanks to far-sighted and environmentally conscious managers, and the participation
of local companies, the site will thus become a green biotope for testing and using sustainable fuels both in the air and on the ground. “We will start with general aviation and then transfer
proven techniques and procedures to commercial aviation,
” says BBAA CEO Timmermann.
For example, one buyer of hydrogen produced in Schoenhagen would be APUS with its models APUS I-2 and APUS I-5 Cargo. The APUS I-2 is the first four-seater travel aircraft produced and operated
in Germany to store the hydrogen in the wings. The manufacturer specifies 1,000 km as the maximum range, and has a patent on this. The aim is to build a family of aircraft powered by Rolls Royce
electric motors, which fulfills various uses. This includes the APUS I-5 Cargo, which can load up to 1.7 tons per take-off. However, it is still a concept study.

BER is interested
Yet, what can other – even larger – commercial airports learn from the example of BBAA and Schoenhagen? They can produce hydrogen autonomously, using solar panels that are placed on open spaces
within the airport grounds, on the roof of passenger terminals and cargo halls, thus providing the necessary electricity to generate hydrogen. A concept that Patrick Muller, Senior Vice President
Operations of Flughafengesellschaft Berlin-Brandenburg (BER), finds worth considering and promptly spoke in favor at the meeting in Schoenhagen of a cooperation between BER and BBAA to work on
airport climate neutrality. As a first step, Timmermann and Schwahn will soon present their concept to the management of BER, to encourage the transformation of Berlin’s major airport into a
climate-neutral airport. This will likely be in the presence of CFO Aletta von Massenbach, who will become the new airport Managing Director in OCT21. She will succeed Engelbert Lütke Daldrup,
who is retiring in SEP21.

Brussels is involved
In the meantime, the cooperation of the Berlin-Brandenburg Aerospace Alliance extends far beyond east Germany. For example, the Schoenhagen project is integrated into the European AirDROME
consortium, consisting of 19 partners from 9 European countries aimed at creating low emissions airports. “AirDROME is part of the EU Commission’s Green deal,” said Hugo Duchemin of
Paris-based consultancy Comworxx S.A.S. It coordinates local and national activities with the aim of ensuring the climate neutrality of airlines and airports. “Our aim is to make climate-neutral
aviation a reality within the EU, the faster, the better,” Mr. Duchemin set out the AirDROME guidelines at the meeting of leading aviation experts at Schoenhagen Airport last week. A statement
supported by the other participants.


Heiner Siegmund

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Source: Cargoforwarder

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