<
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/aerolane-air-cargo-shipping-fuel-saving/>
"A Texas-based startup is seeking to bring old technology into new roles to
make shipping cheaper and better for the planet, according to a
Bloomberg
report. Aerolane aims to pull gliders behind cargo planes to increase capacity
while reducing fuel consumption.
In the modern convenience economy, in which items we consume are often shipped
overseas and over continents before reaching the storefronts where we find
them, shipping costs and accompanying carbon pollution are becoming significant
factors in the climate equation.
According to Transport and Environment, international shipping and flight
combine to account for 6% of all global carbon pollution, and some projections
show that shipping alone could account for 10% of emissions by 2050.
By pulling gliders behind cargo planes, Aerolane claims that fuel burn could be
reduced by as much as 65%, making aerial shipping cheaper for consumers and
better for the planet. Fundamentally, this technique would allow more cargo to
be moved.
Of course, glider technology is not new. This article from the National Air and
Space Museum recalls that gliders were produced before airplanes were invented.
Moving cargo with them isn't a revelation, either. According to the Imperial
War Museums, Horsa gliders were used during the famous D-Day invasion of
Normandy during World War II.
One of the co-founders of Aerolane, Gur Kimchi, believes that the technology's
ease of use and history of application is what makes it a winner. "It's really,
really simple," he says — and that's a good thing.
The significance of this technology comes from its application and potential
impact on consumers and the planet. It is an example of an existing technology
with a high ceiling for positive impact on the environment and consumers'
pockets."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
