Between our new-generation aircraft and engines and the complex logistics support provided by our operations centre, Air Canada works on the cutting edge of human and technological performance. This makes us a natural partner for engineers and researchers from leading global organizations who explore the limits of the possible with the aim of extending those boundaries for the good of us all.
We collaborate with Canadian and foreign scientists on research projects, such as the development of alternative fuels. Air Canada flew its first biofuel flight in 2012 and has partnered with organizations investigating new fuel sources, including the Green Aviation Research and Development Network. In Canada, this network has brought industry and academia together to study, among other things, producing sustainable jet fuel from biomass like forestry waste products.
This spring, we participated in a project to measure emissions from five biofuel flights between Montreal and Toronto. A small jet from Canada’s National Research Council followed our aircraft using special equipment to collect samples from its contrails for analysis and comparison with regular fuel. Other pro-jects relate to safety. This includes discussing anti-laser coatings for aircraft windscreens, sharing data for turbulence prediction models, and consulting with a university preparing an airport crisis simulation. We also assisted a behavioural psychology study assessing the relationship of employees, technology and organizations to determine how employees can be encouraged to better follow protocols to reduce injuries.
Under our safety management system, we obsessively collect performance data. Our expertise has led to partnerships with medical researchers, for example, in applying black-box technology to operating rooms to improve surgical procedures. Elsewhere, we have advised doctors developing their own safety management system for emergency rooms, and exchanged ideas with other health-care providers to address errors and reporting. Indeed, Air Canada’s experts are so well regarded that they are invited to lecture aviation and other groups on a range of topics. Beyond a desire to share our expertise, we learn a great deal by interacting with scientists, researchers and engineers who are themselves at the forefront of their respective fields. Pooling our knowledge not only makes for a better Air Canada, but we believe it also makes for a better world.
By partnering with engineers and researchers at the forefront of their fields, Air Canada is helping to expand the boundaries of what’s possible.
Calin’s column appears every month in enRoute Magazine, Air Canada’s award-winning in-flight magazine found onboard all Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge and Air Canada Express flights. This edition is from the August 2017 issue.
