Melchor J. Antuñano, FAA (bio)
This presentation will provide an update on revolutionary technological developments that are changing and improving aerospace transportation including: 1) New types of airline transports for increased efficiency, greater capacity, enhanced comfort, and more physiologically friendly for occupants, 2) New aircraft designs to reduce noise pollution and decrease the adverse impact of flight operations over populated areas, 3) Future occupant-centered aircraft designs, 4) The emergence of very-light jets for on-demand air taxi service, corporate transportation, and personal use, 5) Hybrid aircraft that combine the functional features of airplanes and helicopters, 6) New designs of flying cars and motorcycles, 7) Electric aircraft to reduce air pollution and decrease reliance on fossil fuels, 8) Next generation of lighter than air (dirigibles/airships) commercial transports, 9) First-of-a-kind designs of innovative personal flying devices, 10) The rapid growth and expansion of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for civil aviation applications, 11) The next generation of supersonic and hypersonic aircraft, 12) Suborbital and orbital commercial space flight vehicles, 13) Commercial and private spaceports, and 14) Commercial and private space stations. All of these technological developments will also be discussed in the context of operational safety and regulatory challenges.