FOCUS ON: Aerospace. Transformation – conference recap from Rzeszów
On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, the second edition of the “FOCUS ON: Aerospace. Transformation” conference took place in Rzeszów. Organized by ALTEN Polska, the event attracted representatives of both local and global businesses, including members of the Aviation Valley cluster, industry experts, and aviation enthusiasts.
Collaboration as the key to success
The conference was officially opened by Ewa Gumula, Managing Director at ALTEN Polska. In her opening remarks, she emphasized that success in such a demanding and dynamic sector as aerospace requires collaboration between interdisciplinary teams. “Only a shared vision, determination, and a willingness to push technological boundaries allow us to achieve the impossible,” she noted. Ewa Gumula also highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange between business partners, which fosters the creation of more innovative and sustainable solutions.
Aviation as a driver of Rzeszów’s development
The next speaker, Magdalena Skotnicka from the Rzeszów City Hall, presented the city’s potential as a significant aerospace hub in Central and Eastern Europe. She emphasized Rzeszów’s strategic location, which, combined with the modern Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport, lays a solid foundation for further economic growth.
She also highlighted the airport’s pivotal role as a cargo hub and pointed out that Rzeszów is home to the Aviation Valley cluster and a center of academic education for future aerospace engineers. These factors make the city increasingly attractive to international investors.
Technological transformation in Aerospace
Tomasz Wesół, Lead Design Engineer at ALTEN Polska, addressed the major challenges related to the transformation of aviation propulsion systems. He noted the slowdown in engine development since the 1990s and the limited potential for further optimization of parameters such as thrust, fuel consumption, and bypass ratio.
As Wesół pointed out, achieving the goals of decarbonizing the aerospace sector requires radical change. Today’s most advanced engines still fall short of meeting environmental expectations. “The future calls for a revolution in engine design – from hybrid solutions to entirely new technologies,” he stressed.
A hybrid approach to Project Management
Dr. Mateusz Wąsik from ALTEN Polska discussed a project management model for the aerospace industry that combines traditional approaches, such as the waterfall methodology, with flexible agile techniques.
“In highly complex projects, like developing new aviation engines, precise planning of every stage – from research to certification, which can take up to seven years – is essential,” explained Dr. Wąsik. Waterfall methodology helps define key milestones and effectively allocate the project timeline. On the other hand, agile techniques, such as iterative task management, enable ongoing progress monitoring and quick adaptation to changing conditions.
This approach allows teams to achieve their goals on time, avoid delays, and optimize resource usage.
Innovation and safety
Łukasz Piotrowski, Program Operational Manager at GE Aerospace, highlighted the challenges of implementing innovative technologies in aviation. “New environmental regulations and ambitious sector goals demand solutions that are often still in the testing phase,” he noted.
However, he emphasized that operating costs, efficiency, and safety considerations remain barriers that many of these technologies still need to overcome. In the aviation industry, safety is always a priority, even if it means delaying the implementation of new solutions.
Panel discussion: Sustainability in Aerospace
The final item on the agenda was a panel discussion titled “Sustainable Development: SAF and Electrification as Key Elements of Transformation in Aerospace.” Moderated by Sylwester Sobieszczański from ALTEN Polska, the panel brought together experts, including Paweł Rzepecki (ALTEN Polska), Łukasz Piotrowski (GE Aerospace), and Mateusz Pelc (ALTEN Polska).
The panelists discussed:
- prospects for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and its potential for industrial-scale application,
- technological and infrastructural challenges of implementing SAF, as well as hydrogen and electric propulsion systems,
- the potential of electric propulsion for regional flights, both passenger and cargo,
- the development of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which could revolutionize urban transportation.
Summary
„Events like this provide an excellent opportunity to delve into key aviation topics, share knowledge, and build relationships that drive the industry’s growth. By creating a space for such gatherings, we will continue these discussions to shape the future of the sector together and tackle the challenges ahead,” assures Katarzyna Marszałek, Employer Branding Manager at ALTEN Polska.
We thank all participants for their active involvement and the speakers for their insightful and inspiring presentations. It’s clear that the transformation of the aerospace industry is gaining momentum. One thing is certain – exciting challenges and groundbreaking changes lie ahead!
