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Turbulence is increasing. Here's how the aviation industry is trying to smooth things out
Turbulence is increasing. Here's how the aviation industry is trying to smooth things out

BBC News

time3 days ago

  • Science
  • BBC News

Turbulence is increasing. Here's how the aviation industry is trying to smooth things out

Climate change is creating stronger turbulence. Aircraft designers hope innovative new techniques will reduce its effects. "We saw blood on the ceiling… It was just complete havoc." This was one passenger's description of the scene after a Singapore Airlines flight was hit by severe turbulence while passing over the south of Myanmar in 2024. A lot of people were on the floor." Early this spring, a United Airlines Boeing 787 also hit severe turbulence while cruising above the Philippines. A flight attendant was thrown against the ceiling, resulting in a concussion and a broken arm. Turbulence incidents like these are increasing as a result of human-caused climate change. Severe clear-air turbulence (Cat), meaning very rough air that is invisible to satellites, radar and the human eye, has increased 55% since 1979 – when reliable meteorological records began, according to research by Paul Williams, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading. Turbulence is expected to treble worldwide by the 2050s and will likely have a major impact on routes across East Asia and the North Atlantic. It could affect people's willingness to fly at all. Among the most common reasons people give when justifying a fear of flying are loss of control and a past experience with turbulence. But turbulence, besides being potentially dangerous, also costs the aviation industry money, causing wear and tear to vehicles and lengthening some flights as pilots try to evade it. Such manoeuvres mean using up more fuel and increasing emissions. Although turbulence is usually a matter of discomfort rather than injury or death, the rising volume of chaotic motions in the atmosphere means airlines, scientists and engineers are faced with coming up with ways of mitigating the problem. Turbulence Solutions based in Baden, Austria, has developed small "flaplets" that may be added to larger flaps (or ailerons) on aircraft wings. The flaplets adjust their angle slightly in order to counteract changes in airflow based on pressure readings taken immediately in front of them on the wing's leading edge. It helps to stabilise the plane, a bit like how birds use tiny adjustments of their feathers while flying. The company says its technology can reduce turbulence loads felt by passengers by more than 80%. So far it has only tested the technology on small aircraft – though CEO Andras Galffy, himself an aerobatics pilot, feels confident that it will scale to support far larger planes. "The common view is you can either avoid or accept turbulence and deal with it by buckling up and reinforcing the wing," he tells me. "But we say you don't need to accept it. You just need the right counter-signal. For light aircraft there was always this pain but even for commercial aviation it's getting more serious because turbulence is increasing." Flying directly through eddies, vortices and updrafts with minimal disturbance requires not only precision engineering but a lot of advanced mathematics and an analysis of fluid dynamics. (Air, like water, is a fluid). The picture will always be complicated because the fundamental nature of turbulence is that it is chaotic. Small perturbations, from how wind deflects off a building to the wake of another aircraft, can change the behaviour of currents in the air. It's hard for humans to comprehend, but it might be easier for AI. "Machine learning is very good at finding patterns within high dimensional data," says Ricardo Vinuesa, a researcher in fluid mechanics, engineering and AI at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. "Turbulence might just be the perfect application for AI." In a recent experiment, Vinuesa and colleagues from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center and TU Delft tested an AI system that controlled "synthetic jets" of air on a simulated aircraft wing. The AI itself was trained using deep reinforcement learning, a process whereby the model learns using trial-and-error, a little like when a toddler learns to walk. "Rather than measuring upstream, we can use AI to create very accurate numerical simulations of what airflow is doing based on measurements taken directly at the wing," he says. "And where neural networks are usually considered black boxes, we use explainable AI, which allows us to determine which measurements are most important to the predictions generated by the model." Vinuesa and his colleagues are working with tech companies to develop the technology further. Last year, a team from Caltech and Nvidia deployed extreme turbulence inside a wind tunnel to test an AI-powered sensing and prediction system for drones with promising results. Researchers at Nasa's Langley Research Center tested a purpose-built microphone capable of detecting ultra-low infrasound frequencies created by whorls of clear-air turbulence up to 300 miles (480km) away. Another approach that has been in active development since at least 2010 involves the use of Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) to create a 3D map of the air around a plane, much as self-driving cars create a point cloud of nearby objects and vehicles, in order to navigate their environment. A 2023 Chinese study proposed a "dual-wavelength" Lidar system, which they claim can observe light-to-moderate Cat between seven and 10km (4.3 to 6.2 miles) ahead of the aircraft. Unfortunately, the lower density of air molecules at high altitude means the instruments become too large, heavy and energy-hungry to be of use in existing commercial aircraft. The convergence of manufacturing, AI and new sensors could transform aviation in the second half of the 21st Century. But what happens today? Before take-off, pilots check weather briefings and study jet stream charts. They consult flight planning software and check forecasts such as the Graphical Turbulence Guidance (GTG) to which Paul Williams contributed. "About 20 years ago we could forecast around 60% of turbulence," he says, "today it's more like 75% and I suppose it's my career goal to push that number up and up." When I ask what holds back progress, Williams says it is access to turbulence data measured by aircraft. "Research scientists have to buy the data, and it's not cheap." More like this:• Aircraft turbulence is worsening with climate change• The aircraft that may fly like a flock of geese• How long-haul travel may change With advanced computation, AI and ever-more satellites, weather forecasting is improving, but there is a general lack of wind measurements above the Earth's surface. What we do know comes from around 1,300 weather balloon sites around the planet and the accelerometers on roughly 100,000 commercial flights that take to the skies each day. Turbulence Aware from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) anonymises and shares real-time turbulence data and is now used by airlines including Air France, EasyJet and Aer Lingus. For passengers, there are a growing number of apps that provide access to data seen only by pilots and dispatchers up to now, one of which is Turbli. "I use Turbli," says Williams. "I've found it to be reasonably accurate given the proviso that they don't know your exact route so can't be 100% accurate. But it's a little like a hypochondriac googling their symptoms," he adds. "I'm not sure it always helps." -- For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

RTX, Astronics, and Diehl Lead Aerospace Lighting Market with Advanced Solutions and Global Expansion Strategies
RTX, Astronics, and Diehl Lead Aerospace Lighting Market with Advanced Solutions and Global Expansion Strategies

Yahoo

time18-07-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

RTX, Astronics, and Diehl Lead Aerospace Lighting Market with Advanced Solutions and Global Expansion Strategies

The Aircraft Lighting Market Companies Quadrant offers an in-depth analysis of the global aircraft lighting industry, emphasizing key players, technological advances, and market trends. The quadrant evaluates over 100 companies, highlighting the top 14 leaders in EVA Films. This market, segmented by light type, technology, end user, and region, is driven by the demand for advanced aircraft due to increasing air travel. Innovations in LED lighting, energy efficiency, and passenger experience enhancements propel market growth. Key players include RTX, Astronics Corporation, Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG, Honeywell, and Thales. Dublin, July 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Aircraft Lighting - Company Evaluation Report, 2024" report has been added to Aircraft Lighting Market Companies Quadrant is a comprehensive industry analysis that provides valuable insights into the global market for Aircraft Lighting Market. This quadrant offers a detailed evaluation of key market players, technological advancements, product innovations, and emerging trends shaping the industry. Over 100 companies were evaluated, of which the top 14 EVA Films companies were categorized and recognized as the quadrant aircraft lighting market encompasses a range of lighting solutions for interior, exterior, and cockpit applications, each serving crucial functions in aviation safety, efficiency, and passenger experience. The market has been segmented based on light type, technology, end user, aircraft type, and region. The growing demand for technologically advanced aircraft is one of the primary market drivers. An increase in domestic and international air travel, fueled by rising disposable incomes, expanding airline fleets, and airport infrastructure development, has further accelerated the demand for innovative and cost-effective aircraft lighting advancements, such as the adoption of LED lighting, lightweight materials, and automation in lighting control, are playing a pivotal role in transforming the market. The shift toward sustainable and energy-efficient lighting alternatives is not only reducing operational costs for airlines but also improving aircraft performance by minimizing power consumption and maintenance requirements. Moreover, the growing focus on enhancing passenger experience through mood lighting, ambient lighting, and customizable illumination systems is influencing interior lighting rise in aircraft deliveries, coupled with the increasing modernization of aging fleets, is further contributing to the expansion of the aircraft lighting market. With the demand for advanced military aircraft, business jets, and next-generation commercial airliners, the need for high-performance, long-lasting, and adaptive lighting solutions is expected to grow 360 Quadrant maps the Aircraft Lighting Market companies based on criteria such as revenue, geographic presence, growth strategies, investments, and sales strategies for the market presence of the Aircraft Lighting Market quadrant. The top criteria for product footprint evaluation included By Aircraft Type (commercial aircraft, military aircraft, helicopters, and business aviation and general aviation.) By Light Type (interior, exterior, and cockpit lights) By Technology (light-emitting diode (LED), high-intensity discharge (HID), and others (halogen, xenon strobe, photoluminescent & electroluminescent, and night vision imaging systems (NVIS))) and End User (original equipment manufacturer (OEM), aftermarket, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO)).Key Players:Key players operating in the Aircraft Lighting Market are RTX (US), Astronics Corporation (US), Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG (Germany), Honeywell International Inc. (US), and Thales (France), among CorporationRTX Corporation stands out as a leader in the aerospace and defense sector, operating through segments like Collins Aerospace. This company specializes in advanced aerospace products, including comprehensive lighting solutions for cabin, cockpit, and exterior use. RTX boasts a significant global footprint, serving diverse markets with superior product offerings and addressing emergent needs in aerospace CorporationKnown for advanced technology solutions, Astronics Corporation provides lighting and safety systems across global aerospace, defense, and electronics sectors. With its extensive product portfolio that includes cabin lighting, emergency lighting, and specialized systems for cockpit and exterior applications, Astronics has solidified its market position with robust distribution in key regions like North America, Europe, and Asia Stiftung & Co. KGDiehl Stiftung & Co. KG, a prominent player in the aerospace lighting sector, offers innovative lighting solutions across interior and exterior applications, focusing on enhancing passenger experience and operational safety. Their strategic partnerships and commitment to high-quality production have reinforced their market position. The company's continuous investment in product advancement underscores its determination to maintain competitiveness in an evolving Topics Covered: 1 Introduction1.1 Market Definition1.2 Inclusions and Exclusions1.3 Stakeholders2 Executive Summary3 Market Overview3.1 Introduction3.2 Market Dynamics3.2.1 Drivers3.2.1.1 Increasing Demand for Enhanced Passenger Comfort and Cabin Customization3.2.1.2 Growing Adoption of Smart and IoT-Connected Lighting3.2.1.3 Increasing Aircraft Production and Deliveries3.2.1.4 Stringent Aviation Safety Regulations3.2.2 Restraints3.2.2.1 High Initial Costs and Integration Complexity3.2.2.2 Limited Power Availability in Aircraft3.2.2.3 Retrofitting Issue in Older Fleets3.2.3 Opportunities3.2.3.1 Rising Number of Autonomous and Electric Aircraft3.2.3.2 Development of Next-Generation Lighting3.2.3.3 Increasing Upgrades of Aircraft Interior Lighting Systems3.2.4 Challenges3.2.4.1 High Maintenance and Replacement Costs3.2.4.2 Weight Limitations in Aircraft Design3.3 Trends and Disruptions Impacting Customer Business3.4 Value Chain Analysis3.4.1 R&D Engineers (5-20%)3.4.2 Component/Product Manufacturing (20-40%)3.4.3 Testing & Quality Assurance (40-60%)3.4.4 End-users (60-90%)3.4.5 After-Sales Service (90-100%)3.5 Ecosystem Analysis3.5.1 Prominent Companies3.5.2 Private and Small Enterprises3.5.3 End-users3.6 Key Conferences and Events, 20253.7 Technology Analysis3.7.1 Key Technologies3.7.1.1 Micro-Led Technology3.7.1.2 Advanced Thermal Management Systems3.7.2 Complementary Technologies3.7.2.1 AI-based Lighting Control Systems3.7.2.2 Biometric Integration with Lighting3.7.3 Adjacent Technologies3.7.3.1 Wireless Power Transfer Lighting3.7.3.2 Augmented Reality & Holographic Lighting3.8 Impact of AI/Generative AI3.8.1 Introduction3.8.2 Adoption of AI in Aviation Industry by Top Countries3.8.3 Impact of AI on Aviation Industry3.8.4 Impact of AI on Aircraft Lighting Market4 Industry Trends4.1 Introduction4.2 Technology Trends4.2.1 Human-Centric Cabin Lighting4.2.2 Organic Light-Emitting Diodes4.2.3 UV-C Disinfection Lighting4.2.4 Smart Lighting with IoT Integration4.2.5 Sustainable and Solar-Powered Lights4.2.6 Electrochromic Windows & Adaptive Cabin Lighting4.2.7 Electroluminescent and Fiber Optic Lighting4.3 Impact of Mega Trends4.3.1 Sustainable Aviation4.3.2 Additive Manufacturing4.3.3 Cabin 4.04.4 Supply Chain Analysis4.5 Patent Analysis5 Competitive Landscape5.1 Introduction5.2 Key Player Strategies/Right to Win, 2020-20245.3 Aircraft Interior Lights Revenue Analysis, 2020-20235.4 Aircraft Interior Lights Market Share Analysis, 20235.5 Aircraft Exterior Lights Revenue Analysis, 2020-20235.6 Aircraft Exterior Lights Market Share Analysis, 20235.6.1 Rtx (US)5.6.2 Astronics Corporation (US)5.6.3 Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG (Germany)5.6.4 Honeywell International Inc. (US)5.6.5 Thales (France)5.7 Company Evaluation Matrix (Interior Lights): Key Players, 20235.7.1 Stars5.7.2 Emerging Leaders5.7.3 Pervasive Players5.7.4 Participants5.8 Company Evaluation Matrix (Exterior Lights): Key Players, 20235.8.1 Stars5.8.2 Emerging Leaders5.8.3 Pervasive Players5.8.4 Participants5.9 Company Evaluation Matrix (Interior and Exterior Lights Combined): Key Players, 20235.9.1 Stars5.9.2 Emerging Leaders5.9.3 Pervasive Players5.9.4 Participants5.9.5 Company Footprint5.9.5.1 Company Footprint5.9.5.2 Light Type Footprint5.9.5.3 End-user Footprint5.9.5.4 Aircraft Type Footprint5.9.5.5 Region Footprint5.10 Company Evaluation Matrix (Interior Lights): Startups/SMEs, 20235.10.1 Progressive Companies5.10.2 Responsive Companies5.10.3 Dynamic Companies5.10.4 Starting Blocks5.11 Company Evaluation Matrix (Exterior Lights): Startups/SMEs, 20235.12 Company Evaluation Matrix (Interior and Exterior Lights Combined): Startups/SMEs, 20235.12.5 Competitive Benchmarking5.12.5.1 List of Startups/SMEs5.12.5.2 Competitive Benchmarking of Startups/SMEs5.13 Brand/Product Comparison5.14 Company Valuation and Financial Metrics5.15 Competitive Scenario5.15.1 Product Launches5.15.2 Deals5.15.3 Others6 Company Profiles6.1 Key Players6.1.1 Rtx6.1.1.1 Business Overview6.1.1.2 Products Offered6.1.1.3 Recent Developments6.1.1.3.1 Product Launches6.1.1.4 Analyst's View6.1.1.4.1 Key Strengths6.1.1.4.2 Strategic Choices6.1.1.4.3 Weaknesses and Competitive Threats6.1.2 Astronics Corporation6.1.3 Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG6.1.4 Honeywell International Inc.6.1.5 Thales6.1.6 Luminator Aerospace6.1.7 Oxley Group6.1.8 Soderberg Manufacturing Company Inc.6.1.9 Heads Up Technologies6.1.10 Aveo Engineering Group, S.R.O.6.1.11 Cobalt Aerospace Group Limited6.1.12 Bruce Aerospace6.1.13 Stg Aerospace Limited6.1.14 Hoffman Engineering6.1.15 Whelen Aerospace Technologies6.2 Other Players6.2.1 Micolux Lighting6.2.2 Jbrnd6.2.3 Sela6.2.4 Spectrolab, Inc.6.2.5 Schott6.2.6 Madelec Aero6.2.7 Precise Flight Inc.6.2.8 Ife Products6.2.9 Trakka6.2.10 Xevision For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data

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