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The future of flight: UN aviation agency looking for new designs and concepts

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The United Nations (UN) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has launched the Aviation Innovation Competitions and is looking for ideas, concepts, and prototypes from the next generation of aviation innovators.

The three competitions, managed by ICAO and supported by Transport Canada commemorate the agency’s 75th anniversary this year. Participants will be highlighted on ICAO’s digital content platforms, and global winners in each category will win grand prizes of $1000, $2000 and $5000. The global winner of the prototypes competition will also win a trip to Montréal to receive their award.

Submissions from elementary students, high school students and young adults must be uploaded by June 30, 2019.

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“Canada is proud of its long-standing relationship with ICAO as Host State, and as an active member of the ICAO Council. Throughout 2019, we join ICAO and its other Member States in celebrating flight and the crucial importance of air connectivity worldwide. On this special milestone of its 75th anniversary, I am pleased to support ICAO’s Aviation Innovation Competitions and I encourage all young Canadians to apply.”

The Honorable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport

Quick Facts

•Proudly hosted by Canada in Montréal, ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world.

•ICAO sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection, amongst many other priorities.

•Canada is one of 193 Member States and is also a member of the 36-member ICAO Council.

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National Research Council in Canada wants to improve air passenger experience

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From visiting friends and family to getting goods to market, Canadians, tourists, and businesses rely on a safe, secure aviation system. While safety is everyone’s top priority in air travel, the air travel experience is arguably a passenger’s next biggest concern. Air travelers and crew want a safe and pleasant flight experience, and so do air carriers. By providing a positive passenger experience through well-designed, research-vetted cabin systems and products that complement human behavior, companies can ensure safer, smoother operations while earning and maintaining customer loyalty.

To understand how people interact with the controlled air travel environment, a National Research Council of Canada(NRC) multidisciplinary team is studying human responses to the cabin environment and the impact of new design concepts and emerging technologies on air travelers and crew.

The NRC is in the third year of a five-year research collaboration with the Research & Technology team at Airbus Americas Engineering to improve the air passenger experience by studying and demonstrating the human impact of technology innovations. The research team is using the new NRC Centre for Air Travel Research and real people in simulated tests to evaluate and analyze innovative disruptive concepts, cabin air quality and environmental control systems, passenger comfort, and issues associated with boarding and exiting aircraft.

After carefully analyzing the data gathered during these comprehensive tests, researchers will be able to identify low-cost, high-return changes that can be applied early in the aircraft design process to the benefit of Airbus and its industry customers, affording them the opportunity to make evidence-based decisions that balance the safety and comfort of air passengers and crew with manufacturing and operational costs for next generation aircraft.

This research collaboration is due in part to Airbus’ Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) obligation associated with Canada’s Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement (FWSAR) program. Canada’s ITB Policy ensures that prime contractors provide business activities in Canada equal to the contract value. The FWSAR program is supporting approximately 2.5 billion CAD in ITB activities within the Canadian economy.

  • The multi-disciplinary team in the National Research Council of Canada’s Centre for Air Travel Research includes a variety of expertise— specialists in physiology, psychology, industrial design, engineering, instrumentation, fabrication, and project management— that allows the team to fully explore the impact of new aircraft design concepts and emerging technologies on air travelers and crew.
  • The Centre for Air Travel Research has five laboratories and can facilitate the study of security screening systems, airport navigation tools, virtual reality devices to address flight anxiety, and the specific needs of communities such as seniors or persons with disabilities.
  • In addition to offering a realistic re-creation of an airport terminal, the Centre for Air Travel Research also boasts the Flexible Cabin Laboratory, complete with an A320 aircraft cabin that allows for the study of passenger flight experience, human vibration, and more.

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Canada’s government officials announce support for victims of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302

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Today, the Honorable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Honorable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, issued the following statement announcing Canada’s support to victim identification efforts following the tragic aircraft accident involving an Ethiopian Airlines Flight.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, we wish to extend our most sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who perished in this tragic accident.  Our thoughts continue to go out to each of the Canadian families, friends and communities affected by this awful accident.

The situation on the ground is fluid and may continue to evolve rapidly. Canada will remain ready to assist with the ongoing recovery efforts.

To this end, the Government of Canada, through the Government Operations Centre and Global Affairs Canada, is in constant contact with international and local officials to coordinate Canada’s contribution to these efforts, in support of Interpol’s call for assistance. At present, the RCMP has provided a team of three specialized personnel to assist with providing disaster victim identification support.

Four additional Canadian officials have been dispatched to Ethiopia to provide added capacity and expertise as well as support to affected families. Officials from the Embassy and from Global Affairs Canada’s Standing Rapid Deployment Team have been coordinating with local authorities in Addis Ababa. Officials have been supporting family members of Canadian victims who have travelled to Ethiopia, including by sharing updates on the situation, providing information about local contacts and services, and accompanying families to the site of the tragedy.

Canadian officials will continue to work closely with Ethiopian Airlines and local authorities on the gathering and sharing of information in real time with the families, including on questions relating to repatriation.

Friends and relatives in Canada who are in need of assistance should contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa at +1-613-996-8885 or email [email protected].

On behalf of all Canadians, we are grateful to all nations who have heeded the international call for assistance, and commend the Canadians who will solemnly perform their duties in the aftermath of this terrible tragedy.”

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