It is vital, therefore, to keep up with the latest topics and trends in related industries. Covering everything from the life of frontline engineers in the Royal Navy to climate resilience in aviation, the IMechE Focus: Aerospace & Defence webinar series brought attendees up-to-date with the latest expertise from industry leaders and prominent institutions earlier this month (13-17 October).
Here are three key messages from the eight sessions.
Additive manufacturing is building momentum
The importance of 3D printing to modern defence and aerospace manufacturing was clear at the event, with at least half the sessions discussing growing applications.
Gino Balistreri from HP Additive Manufacturing and Dan Magy from modular drone company Firestorm Labs explored the ways that distributed manufacturing is shaping the use of uncrewed aerial vehicles, emphasising the agility, supply chain resilience, operational readiness and performance innovation it can provide.
As well as building its own multi-mission drone using HP’s multi-jet fusion technology, Firestorm also prints drones, parts and vehicle components for other companies, and has installed HP printers in shipping containers for easy portability around the battlefield, enabling manufacturing and repairs where needed.
“The defence industrial base globally is pretty broken,” Magy said. “If your headlight breaks for your car, you get in your car, you go to an auto store and you buy it, and then you could probably install it yourself, OK? That does not exist in this space. So, every single week, we are fixing something that has months-long lead times…
“We’re framing it around ‘How badly do you need to get your multimillion-dollar system back up and running?’ and you’re being delayed by a part that we can mass-produce out of a 3D printer? It is mind-boggling how utilitarian this solution is becoming.”
Climate adaptation and mitigation must go hand in hand
With the 1.5ºC limit for global warming now breached, as highlighted by UN secretary-general António Guterres this week, aviation is set to face increasing pressure to limit its emissions – even as demand for flights increases. Climate resilience is also becoming increasingly important for business continuity in the industry, according to risk management specialist Airbus Protect.
“Adaptation and mitigation are closely linked and, in fact, they should be addressed together,” said senior sustainability consultant Dr Alessandra Treviso. “When we adopt adaptation measures, we need to make sure that we do that in a way that is responsible.”
Higher temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and increased extreme weather events are already affecting both ground infrastructure, such as airports, and flight operations, which also face shifting wind patterns and increased turbulence.
Climate models should be used to identify future challenges and opportunities for airports and airlines, Treviso said. “It’s also important to start liaising with the certification authorities and really everyone involved in the sector to understand what, if any, changes to requirements are necessary, and how we can adapt them to the future climate.”
Frontline engineers face added challenges
The session Frontline Engineers: Life and Challenges of Engineers on Military Deployment featured a panel discussion between engineers from across the armed forces. Commander Chris Fletcher, Captain Nick Coleing and Flight Sergeant Chris Hollis shared their insights about engineering challenges and life on military deployment, including training requirements, operational pressures, the importance of teamwork and the introduction of new technologies.
A poll of audience members found that problem-solving is seen as one of the most important traits for military engineers. For Commander Fletcher, the ability to remain calm under pressure was the key requirement. “I can’t be having emotional beings running around submarines when things are going wrong,” he said.
Crew members need to be “well-drilled, well-trained and well-rehearsed,” he added. “When the bad thing happens, it’s just another day in the office.”
If you were not registered for the event but would like to watch the sessions on-demand for free, please contact the IMechE Event Enquiries team at eventenquires@imeche.org.
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