Politecnico di Torino logo

Research database

PHOENIX - Participatory Hub for Open and Evidence-based support to Novel regulations for Innovative X-planes

Duration:
01/12/2025 - 30/11/2026
Principal investigator(s):
Project type:
University research - TechToMarket
Funding body:
ATENEO
Project identification number:
10642
PoliTo role:
Sole Contractor

Abstract

Following the withdrawal of the Concorde from the scene in the year 2003, while the public debate was essentially focused on the increasing socio-economic and sustainability concerns, researchers have been working at introducing a paradigm shift in high-speed aviation. To fully unveil the market potential of civil supersonic aviation, that was a showstopper for the Concorde, it is necessary to design and develop new aircraft meeting social acceptance and enabling policymakers to relax restrictions on operations, thus increasing the number of possible routes and city pairs to connect, and secure profitability of the initiative. From a policy perspective, this is a clear example of Post-Normal science, where ‘facts are uncertain (e.

g. chemical and noise emissions formation during supersonic combustion, impact of the use of new propellants, etc..), values are in dispute (e.g. population exposure, socio-economic benefits from high-speed connections, etc..), stakes are high (future of civil aviation sector) and decisions are urgent (companies and research centers are testing their prototypes and are waiting for novel certification procedures)’. PHOENIX (Participatory Hub for Open and Evidence-based support to Novel regulations Innovative X-planes) project aims at supporting the resurgence of supersonic aviation, exploiting the outcomes of EU Funded H2020 MORE&LESS (MDO and REgulations for Low-boom and Environmentally Sustainable Supersonic aviation) project. PHOENIX aims at validating the market opportunity of a multi-sided business model conceived to make aerospace innovation more transparent, participatory, and green, having at the heart of the project an intelligent network, connecting policy makers, universities and research centers, and general public. The idea is to provide the aerospace regulatory community and supersonic aircraft designers with an all-in-one platform (built upon the framework developed within MORE&LESS, called ESATTO) to develop new solutions and to assess their environmental impact. This platform is also intended to be a co-creative space where researchers can contribute sharing knowledge as well as developing and integrating their own add-ons. Moreover, newly developed sustainable supersonic aircraft concepts, designed by using this platform, can be specifically configured to be released to the community of flight simulation enthusiasts, in the form of validated digital aircraft models (including 3D CAD models, technical and environmental performance). On the one hand, this will make the development of future aircraft more participatory, contributing to the social acceptance of supersonic aviation. On the other hand, the high-fidelity models offered to the simmers community will allow them flying realistic procedures and mission profiles, thus potentially enriching the regulatory community databases with a substantial amount of accurate data.

People involved

Structures

Keywords

ERC sectors

PE8_1 - Aerospace engineering
SH2_7 - Environmental and climate change, societal impact and policy

Sustainable Development Goals

Obiettivo 7. Assicurare a tutti l’accesso a sistemi di energia economici, affidabili, sostenibili e moderni|Obiettivo 11. Rendere le città e gli insediamenti umani inclusivi, sicuri, duraturi e sostenibili|Obiettivo 13. Promuovere azioni, a tutti i livelli, per combattere il cambiamento climatico*

Budget

Total cost: € 90,000.00
Total contribution: € 90,000.00
PoliTo total cost: € 90,000.00
PoliTo contribution: € 90,000.00