Aviation Sustainability, Electric Aviation, and Alternative Propulsion

Aviation is energy intensive. For over a hundred years, the industry has been using primarily petroleum, fossil fuels within internal combustion and/or turbine engine designs. Within the last few decades, research has increased into the potentials for alternative methods of propulsion, including options such as electricity, hydrogen, and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) created from renewable feedstocks.

Several members of UND are conducting research in this domain. Generally, public sentiment broadly favors improving the environmental footprint of aviation with a limited contingent of the populous expressing concerns related to changing the status quo. Barriers to sustainable aviation include the regulatory approvals required for new fuels and technologies, infrastructure limitations, range limitations of current battery technology, and the complexity of the interactions between fuels and aircraft systems.

New airframes are being designed around new propulsion types, battery technologies, fuel systems, and engine designs. These novel airframe designs may be fixed-wing, powered-lift, or blended/design. As for human interaction, airframe designs ranging from traditionally piloted, to remotely piloted, to fully autonomous and some hybrid combinations. All of these changes in airframes, automation-level, and fuels require evaluation of infrastructure, human-factors, supply chain considerations, and human interactions within the operational environment. Broadly, some refer to the application of these novel designs into a commercial application as "Advanced Air Mobility" or AAM. It should be noted that the term AAM has included a broad and diverse set of definitions, depending on the airframe design, human-operator, and mission.

UND Faculty Researchers: Andrew Leonard, Nicholas Wilson

Midwest Electric and Alternative Propulsion Consortium

A consortium of four midwestern states will be surveyed related to the preparation and arrival of electric and/or alternative propulsion aircraft. The survey will serve as a foundation for larger discussions and education related to infrastructure and planning for electric and novel aircraft designs, sometimes included within discussion of advanced air mobility, or "AAM."

Contacts: Nicholas Wilson, Andrew Leonard

Publications

• Wilson, N. D., Guthridge, R., Wild, B., Roesler, J., Kasowski, D., Geinert, N., Terbest, A., Fettig, A., Kraus, R. (2025). A Technical and Statistical Analysis of Unleaded Aviation Fuel (UL94) Adoption in a High- Volume Collegiate Aviation Environment. Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering: Vol. 14: Iss. 2, Article 6. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7771/2159-6670.1324

• Guthridge, R, Wilson, N., Wild, B. (2025). Unleaded Aviation Fuel: Assessing Stakeholder Perceptions and Preparing an Organization for Change. Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering: Vol. 14: Iss. 1, Article 4. https://doi.org/10.7771/2159-6670.1315

• Nichlin, Z., Beck, J. Wilson, N. (2025). Advanced Air Mobility and Its Link to Converging Technologies. Key Note Closing Panel Luncheon. High Impact Technology Exchange Conference. Minneapolis, MN. (July 24, 2025).

• Wilson, N. (2025). Shift to Electric-Powered Aircraft: Operational Considerations and Stakeholder Opinions. Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Advanced Air Mobility Webinar. (February 20, 2025)

• Wilson, N. (2025). University of North Dakota's Experience with Unleaded Fuel: A Case Study. Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting. Lectern Session 3086, P25-20807, Washington, D.C. (January 7, 2025).

• Leonard, A., Wilson, N., Lents, M. (2024). Sustainable Horizons: Exploring Attitudes and Beliefs on Electric Aircraft Usage in General Aviation. Transportation Research Record, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/03611981241287197

• Wilson, N. (2024). Unleaded Aviation Fuel (UL94) Adoption Case Study at the University of North Dakota. UND Aerospace Aviation Alumni Advisory Board. Grand Forks, ND & Online/Virtual Presentation. (October 3, 2024).

• Wilson, N. (2024). Unleaded Aviation Fuel (UL94) Adoption Case Study at the University of North Dakota. University Aviation Association (UAA) Fall Conference, Memphis, TN. (September 25, 2024).

• Wilson, N., Leonard, A. (2024) Stakeholder Opinions in the Shift to Electric-Powered Aircraft. World Aviation Training Summit (WATS). Orlando, Florida. (May 1, 2024).

• Wilson, N., Archer, L., Guthridge, R., Roesler, J., Lents, M. (2023). Technical and Regulatory Factors of Adopting Electric Training Aircraft in a Collegiate Aviation Setting. The Collegiate Aviation Review International, 41(1).

• Wilson, N. (2023). Technical and Regulatory Factors of Adopting Electric Training Aircraft in a Collegiate Aviation Setting. University Aviation Association (UAA) Fall Conference, St. Petersburg, FL (September 28, 2023).

• Wilson, N. (2023). Feasibility of Electric-Powered Aircraft in Collegiate Aviation. World Aviation Training Summit (WATS), Orlando, Florida. (April 19, 2023).