Airport retail therapy – some of the best airports for duty free

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Once you’ve checked in and offloaded your baggage, you’ll have some spare time airside. You could plug in your laptop and get on with some work or indulge in a variety of refreshments; however, the lure of a vibrant shopping mall is frequently too much of a distraction. In this article, Artemis Aerospace investigates some of the best airports in which to buy before you fly.

For many people, a leisurely wander round an airport shopping mall is as much a part of the journey as the flight itself. For retailers, a captive audience in a holiday mood is likely to be the kind of customer they want. Time and routine are thrown out of the window; people drink beer for breakfast, buy hats they are unlikely ever to wear again and are generally much more receptive to the idea of spending. Serious shoppers with an eye for a bargain can often hunt one out, and the possibilities for duty free alcohol, cosmetics, fragrances, luxury goods and tobacco are legion, particularly if a bit of research is undertaken beforehand.

Some airports have very little in the way of retail opportunities. If you’re a keen shopper it can be rather disappointing to find your purchasing prospects are limited to a magazine, a bottle of water and a few uninteresting snacks. But in the larger airports, shopping malls are glittering temples to merchandising with high end brands tempting the passer-by to indulge. We’ve put together a list of six which should give any passenger a memorable shopping experience before they take off.

London Heathrow Airport

Placed fourth in the Skytrax Best Airport Shopping Award 2023, Heathrow, with 62 outlets, promises an exciting few hours of browsing. You can check out Aspinal of London or Bulgari for designer bags, buy a watch at Cartier, Rolex or Tiffany or boost your holiday wardrobe with a little number from Prada. There are branches of Harrods and Fortnum & Mason should you require some upmarket refreshment, and even a Harry Potter shop in case your wand requires an upgrade. If you want to make the most of every minute, you can pre-book a personal shopping service.

Hong Kong International Airport

If you feel stressed when you arrive at HKIA, you can head for one of the two Waterfall Gardens, an interactive multimedia ecosystem with plant life, ponds, and waterfalls. Once recharged, among the 280 shops, Versace, Ferragamo and Jimmy Choo beckon, along with Hong Kong jewellery brand Chow Tai Fook. If you’re exhausted after all this and need a little pick-me-up, you can head to the Oriental Massage Centre for a relaxing head, shoulder and foot massage. The ideal way to begin a long journey!

Dubai International Airport

The UAE is globally renowned for its designer shopping, and the airport is particularly known for its duty free electronics and technology retail opportunities. Dubai Duty Free store will sell you a laptop or mobile, a power bank if you forgot your charger, or even a drone, should you feel the need to undertake some aviation of your own! Cosmetics are also a canny purchase here, and you can customise a bottle of perfume at the Guerlain pop-up in Terminal 3 for a perfect present. As an extra bonus, if you’ve been sitting in a plane for hours, all passengers passing through Dubai are entitled to use of the swimming pool at the Dubai International Hotel.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Schiphol is another airport which tries to de-stress the travelling experience; you can seat yourself in one of seven Massage-O-Matic chairs for a five-minute Shiatsu massage, while listening to calming music and watching relaxing images on a screen. Re-energised, you can find good prices on beauty and fashion products from retailers such as Gucci, Burberry and Bottega Veneta. Visit Old Amsterdam for a wide selection of Dutch cheeses, which are vacuum-packed ready to go in your hand luggage. And, of course, you shouldn’t leave without buying a chocolate windmill – the ultimate in edible souvenirs!

The growth of Indian aviation.....

As the aviation industry begins to take flight again after the static years of the pandemic, one country is striding ahead. Artemis Aerospace investigates India's rise to the skies.

The announcement earlier this year that the Air India Group has ordered 470 aircraft set the aviation industry alight with interest and excitement. Speaking recently at an event to unveil Air India's new brand identity, CEO Campbell Wilson stated that the Group's ambitious expansion plans would mean taking delivery of a new aircraft every six days on average until the end of 2024. This staggering total comprises 250 from Airbus and 220 from Boeing, with a further option to buy another 370 planes. It's the largest aircraft order in aviation history and is worth $70 billion.

Air India was making a loss until a takeover by the Tata Group in January 2022. It encompasses Air India, Air India Express, AIX Connect and Vistara, and the new owners have embarked on an ambitious five-year consolidation and development process, with the aim to double market share on both domestic flights and international short haul.

As these figures demonstrate, the aviation industry in India is undergoing a transformation which is nothing short of dramatic; it now has the third-largest domestic market globally, second only to America and China. The route from Mumbai to Delhi is the third busiest in the world, and India's Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) reported that the industry handled around 200 million passengers in the financial year ending March 2023. There are currently 140 operational airports in India, with the government planning a further 200 over the next five years.

These are impressive statistics – but what has caused this unprecedented industry upsurge? As is usually the case, it's a combination of factors.

The real art of blue sky thinking...... air traffic control

Picture the worst possible day on the biggest and busiest road and then imagine that chaos transferred to the clouds worldwide. Artemis Aerospace looks at the crucial work of air traffic controllers and how they keep aircraft moving and skies safe.

If you’ve downloaded a flight radar app, you may have been astonished at the sheer number of aircraft criss-crossing the country. Zooming in to Heathrow or JFK, all you can see is a vast pile of teeny planes all seemingly jostling to get on or off the runway. It appears to be completely chaotic, but every single aircraft is on a precisely dictated flight path, and it’s the work of air traffic controllers which will result in an untroubled journey and a safe landing.

The aim of air traffic control is to move aircraft safely and efficiently through the airspace system, to maintain communication with the pilot and ensure compliance with aviation protocol. In the UK, 7,000 aircraft traverse the skies every day, and air traffic control services handle 2.5 million flights and 250 million passengers per year on commercial, leisure, cargo and military flights.

It's arguably one of the most responsible jobs anyone can undertake, with passenger safety depending on each decision. To become an air traffic controller (ATCo) you need to have good concentration, excellent verbal communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills and the ability to pay attention to detail and work well under pressure.

The route to becoming an ATCo involves rigorous study; to begin with, trainees spend a year at a specialist college learning about the theories and practicalities of the job. Modules include air navigation law, air safety management and weather studies as well as the complex rules and regulations of air traffic control. Having completed this, trainees can then specialise as one of three types of ATCo:

Area controllers are based at a regional control centre and track and guide aircraft flying at high altitudes through their specific area.

Approach controllers give instructions to aircraft which have just taken off and manage them on their approach to an airport.

Aerodrome controllers work from an airport control tower, guiding pilots to their allocated stand and runway and giving take-off and landing clearance.

There are two types of airspace, controlled and uncontrolled. Surprisingly, the majority is uncontrolled and is used by recreational pilots and also some military flights; it’s up to the pilots to avoid collisions. Air traffic control services are provided in controlled airspace using radar and other surveillance systems to minimise delays and keep aircraft at a safe distance from each other.

After the dramatic downturn in air travel during the pandemic, what shape is the aviation industry in today?

Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay

After the dramatic downturn in air travel during the pandemic, what shape is the aviation industry in today? Artemis Aerospace looks at whether business is flying high again.

As COVID-19 spread worldwide in 2020, international air travel came to an almost complete standstill, and the aviation industry described it as ‘the worst year in history for air travel demand’. The following year and 2021 wasn’t any better, as lockdowns worldwide, often with different restrictions in different countries, made any kind of travel well-nigh impossible.

At the beginning of 2022, as constraints in the UK began to ease, Artemis’s article aviation in the post-pandemic era speculated on how the industry would begin to pick itself up and become competitive again. As memories of life under lockdown begin to fade, we review how aviation is recovering.

IATA has predicted that by the end of 2023, most regions will either be at, or exceeding, demand levels prior to the pandemic, and that the aviation industry will return to profitability. As an example, Boeing delivered a total of 480 commercial aircraft throughout 2022, a 40% increase from 2021, making it the busiest year since 2018.

Both demand and capacity are increasing considerably, particularly for flights for leisure purposes, although a shortage of skilled personnel, rising inflation, global supply chain issues and general industrial unrest continue to cause problems. Last year, Boeing claimed that over 600,000 new pilots would be needed between now and 2041 to keep up with requirements – read our recent blog on the subject here.

Automation

In our earlier blog, we mentioned the increase in contactless check in and immigration, and these innovations continue to develop. Digital advancement is expected to take off in the next few years with artificial intelligence and data analytics contributing towards more effective supply chain logistics, production and maintenance. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly using smart factory technologies, such as robotics and the IoT (Internet of Things) to precipitate aircraft production. Machines can run mostly autonomously and will correct themselves and learn from errors. The fine tuning of the digital thread should also have a significant effect on both aircraft and component manufacture. This is a process by which information from the supply chain, smart factory, connected systems and customer feedback is automatically woven into the whole manufacturing procedure, so performance can be continually improved and streamlined.

Business as usual?

Image by Jan Vašek from Pixabay

After the dramatic downturn in air travel during the pandemic, what shape is the aviation industry in today? Artemis Aerospace looks at whether business is flying high again.

As COVID-19 spread worldwide in 2020, international air travel came to an almost complete standstill, and the aviation industry described it as ‘the worst year in history for air travel demand’. The following year and 2021 wasn’t any better, as lockdowns worldwide, often with different restrictions in different countries, made any kind of travel well-nigh impossible.

At the beginning of 2022, as constraints in the UK began to ease, Artemis’s article aviation in the post-pandemic era speculated on how the industry would begin to pick itself up and become competitive again. As memories of life under lockdown begin to fade, we review how aviation is recovering.

IATA has predicted that by the end of 2023, most regions will either be at, or exceeding, demand levels prior to the pandemic, and that the aviation industry will return to profitability. As an example, Boeing delivered a total of 480 commercial aircraft throughout 2022, a 40% increase from 2021, making it the busiest year since 2018.

Both demand and capacity are increasing considerably, particularly for flights for leisure purposes, although a shortage of skilled personnel, rising inflation, global supply chain issues and general industrial unrest continue to cause problems. Last year, Boeing claimed that over 600,000 new pilots would be needed between now and 2041 to keep up with requirements – read our recent blog on the subject here.

Automation

In our earlier blog, we mentioned the increase in contactless check in and immigration, and these innovations continue to develop. Digital advancement is expected to take off in the next few years with artificial intelligence and data analytics contributing towards more effective supply chain logistics, production and maintenance. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly using smart factory technologies, such as robotics and the IoT (Internet of Things) to precipitate aircraft production. Machines can run mostly autonomously and will correct themselves and learn from errors. The fine tuning of the digital thread should also have a significant effect on both aircraft and component manufacture. This is a process by which information from the supply chain, smart factory, connected systems and customer feedback is automatically woven into the whole manufacturing procedure, so performance can be continually improved and streamlined.

Skills shortages in the aviation industry......

Aviation commentators are warning of a worsening skills shortage which could threaten the industry's bounceback from the pandemic. This is particularly acute for pilots, but covers all workers from cabin crew to ground staff. Artemis Aerospace explores how training is being affected.

Last year, along with many other industry commentators, we sounded a warning about the need to address the skills shortage in the aviation sector, and discussed how to build momentum to overcome it and highlight the appeal of careers in the industry. If we fast forward a year, has this changed?

Boeing's Pilot and Technician Outlook 2023-2042 states that "over the next twenty years, 649,000 new pilots, 690,000 new maintenance technicians and 938,000 new cabin crew members will be needed to maintain the global commercial fleet."

A global skills survey from IATA in 2022 found that the percentage of pilots in place to meet immediate needs was 72%, maintenance and technical staff was 70%, and cabin crew only 63%. In the US, there are 10% fewer fully trained air traffic controllers than there were ten years ago, 12,000 fewer mechanics, and nearly 15,000 pilots are due to retire within five years. In the UK, the number of pilots who retired during the pandemic is reputed to be at least twice the usual levels.

There are a multitude of different reasons for this alarming shortfall in personnel, one of the most important ones being issues surrounding training. It's critical for the industry that more training places are provided, and more applicants encouraged to take them up.

Inevitably, for jobs on which people's lives depend, training is thorough and demanding. On graduating from a UK pilot training school, prospective pilots will have gained a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and an Instrument Rating (IR) which combine to make a "frozen ATPL." This opens doors to jobs as a first officer or co-pilot. In order to "unfreeze" the APTL, 1,500 flying hours are required before a trainee can advance to the rank of captain, as well as a practical skills test, and exams in subjects such as radio navigation. Whichever training route is taken, courses are completely self-funded and extremely expensive - between £70K and £120K - which doesn't encourage a large or diverse entry into the system.

The effects of flying on your body

Image by Orna from Pixabay

When jetting off for a holiday, it’s unlikely your primary concern will be how the flight is going to affect you physically. However, flying can produce a surprising number of reactions in the average human body. In this article, Artemis Aerospace looks at some of them, and discusses how they can be overcome.

The human race isn’t in its natural element soaring through the air, so perhaps it’s understandable that our bodies might protest a little. However, if you look more closely into the many different reactions flying can produce, it’s worth taking a moment to discover the best way to alleviate them, so you arrive fighting fit at your destination.

Changes to Circadian rhythm

This is probably the issue which affects flyers most. Circadian rhythm is a natural process which governs the cycle of sleeping and waking every day. It’s primed to ensure the body’s functions are re-energised at optimal points during a 24-hour period and works primarily on the day-to-night cycle. On a flight, particularly a long-haul one, this cycle is interrupted, leading to a reduced amount of sleep, and the sleep which is achieved tends to be more fragmented and of lower quality. It’s commonly known as jet lag. There’s no cure for it, but experts recommend easing yourself into your destination time zone a few days prior to your flight, avoiding caffeine and alcohol while on board, and using a mask and earplugs to help you sleep. Some welcome news is that research suggests around one in three people may not get jet lag at all.

Increased risk of DVT

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is often mentioned as a hazard for flyers, but it’s not the flight itself that is the problem; it’s the fact that you’re likely to be sedentary for lengthy periods of time - you can just as easily end up with it from a long car journey. To reduce your risk of DVT, the most important thing to do is get up and move around the cabin at regular intervals, and move your legs about while sitting down, although not to the extent that you annoy your neighbour! Wearing compression socks, which help increase the blood flow to the heart, is recommended on long flights.

Straighten up and fly right .....

Image by Orna from Pixabay

When jetting off for a holiday, it’s unlikely your primary concern will be how the flight is going to affect you physically. However, flying can produce a surprising number of reactions in the average human body. In this article, Artemis Aerospace looks at some of them, and discusses how they can be overcome.

The human race isn’t in its natural element soaring through the air, so perhaps it’s understandable that our bodies might protest a little. However, if you look more closely into the many different reactions flying can produce, it’s worth taking a moment to discover the best way to alleviate them, so you arrive fighting fit at your destination.

Changes to Circadian rhythm

This is probably the issue which affects flyers most. Circadian rhythm is a natural process which governs the cycle of sleeping and waking every day. It’s primed to ensure the body’s functions are re-energised at optimal points during a 24-hour period and works primarily on the day-to-night cycle. On a flight, particularly a long-haul one, this cycle is interrupted, leading to a reduced amount of sleep, and the sleep which is achieved tends to be more fragmented and of lower quality. It’s commonly known as jet lag. There’s no cure for it, but experts recommend easing yourself into your destination time zone a few days prior to your flight, avoiding caffeine and alcohol while on board, and using a mask and earplugs to help you sleep. Some welcome news is that research suggests around one in three people may not get jet lag at all.

Increased risk of DVT

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is often mentioned as a hazard for flyers, but it’s not the flight itself that is the problem; it’s the fact that you’re likely to be sedentary for lengthy periods of time - you can just as easily end up with it from a long car journey. To reduce your risk of DVT, the most important thing to do is get up and move around the cabin at regular intervals, and move your legs about while sitting down, although not to the extent that you annoy your neighbour! Wearing compression socks, which help increase the blood flow to the heart, is recommended on long flights.

AOG – the technical faults which can ground a plane

Aircraft on ground delay – words to strike dread into anyone connected with the aviation industry. In this article, Artemis Aerospace looks at the most common technical faults which cause a plane to be taken out of service, and what can be done to get it back up in the sky as quickly as possible.

Approximately $6 billion is lost per year in the airline industry due to an AOG situation. Every minute an aircraft is idle on the ground awaiting repairs, it’s haemorrhaging money for its owner or operator and causing a serious back-up of passengers across the world missing important meetings, family occasions and holidays. Aircraft have extensive and tightly regulated maintenance programmes, but when a plane such as a Boeing 747-8 comprises 6 million components (according to Lufthansa) there will inevitably be occasions when unscheduled technical faults occur. So, what are the most common technical faults which cause an AOG delay, and how long does it take to fix them?

There’s a sliding scale in terms of the seriousness of an aircraft malfunction, from post-inspection failure to instrument failure to critical issues such as sudden cabin decompression, landing gear failure or engine failure. In the vast majority of these cases, potential faults are discovered before they become an issue, during normal maintenance. Aircraft are required to undergo regulatory inspections every six to eight months and between every 400 to 600 hours. In the event of a mechanical fault happening mid-flight, a skilled crew should still be able to bring the plane down safely for repairs to be carried out. Whatever the situation in which a fault becomes apparent, however, the aircraft is immediately grounded.

Many mechanical issues are fairly basic and easily corrected. Most manufacturers of components for aeroplanes have thorough diagnostic routines to enable mechanics to identify issues rapidly and methodically.

Landing gear extension and retraction failure happens twice as often as engine problems on commercial aircraft. It can be due to low temperatures freezing the gear into the retracted position or being jammed by inadequate lubrication and an excess of dust or sand in the mechanism.

Cabin crew – not just drinks and duty free

Photo  https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/1shotproduction?mediatype=photography

Every plane journey begins and ends with a cheerful smile from the cabin crew, and throughout the trip they will be on hand to ensure your comfort and safety. Artemis Aerospace investigates a career with rigorous training which ranges from serving drinks to saving lives.

	You may think that a career as a cabin crew member involves little more than looking immaculately turned-out while wielding the tea urn and calculating the duty-free allowance. However, it’s a job which requires stamina and initiative as well as good grooming. If you’re thinking about applying for a cabin crew job, the list of necessary attributes is a lengthy one. You need to be a team player, have excellent communications, time management, interpersonal and customer service skills, be able to stay calm and smiling under pressure, be adaptable, flexible, as well as fit and healthy. In addition, cabin crew work long, irregular and anti-social hours which will often include weekends, holidays and night shifts. As a result, cabin crew training is extremely intensive and, depending on the airline, the pass rate is around 95%, which leaves no room for error or carelessness. For the large commercial carriers, such as British Airways, training lasts for four to six weeks, and is often preceded by preparation to bring entrants up to speed, such as researching terminology, airport codes, the phonetic alphabet and time differences. Around 2,000 aspiring cabin crew will attend BA’s training centre every year, and, having passed, each member will return annually for a refresher course. Customer service is at the heart of the job. BA’s Customer Service Course includes modules on: Setting the tone Creating a good impression Uniform and appearance Fundamentals of communication Listening skills Transactional analysis Building relationships Getting to know your customers and their needs Service recovery Feedback Practical exercises If there’s an emergency during the flight, it’s the job of the cabin crew to keep passengers safe. Training involves operation of all the on-board safety apparatus, including firefighting equipment, and advanced first aid which covers the use of defibrillators and CPR. Confined conditions on a plane mean this is a more complicated process than it would be on the ground. By the end of training, a cabin crew member should be able to assess a passenger’s condition, identify the injury or illness, give the correct treatment, prevent deterioration and assist recovery until the plane can land and transfer them to hospital. In July 2022, cabin crew from Emirates Airlines saved two separate passengers from cardiac arrest on different flights; using a defibrillator and CPR techniques they kept both passengers stable until the planes were able to land. However, it’s far more common for cabin crew to have to deal with fainting, respiratory issues or nausea. They also have to be up to speed with procedures to restrain aggressive or drunken passengers, and conflict management techniques to resolve issues between passengers which may become heated. Other essential training involves learning about the safety of the aircraft and the emergency procedures. Different situations are taught and repeatedly rehearsed so that response becomes second nature. Decompression is what happens when the aircraft’s pressurisation system fails to maintain its correct pressure, and it can be caused by a system malfunction or structural damage to the aircraft such as a faulty door seal. A cabin crew member’s first duty in this situation is to don their own oxygen mask in order to ensure they are able to look after passengers during an emergency descent to a safe altitude of 10,000 feet, and ensure everyone’s oxygen masks are worn. The crew themselves will have portable oxygen cylinders so they are able to move around the cabin to help anyone who needs it.

Business jet simulators - the changing face of pilot training

With strikes, delays, crowded airports and staff shortages across the aviation industry, the last few years have seen an unparalleled rise in the use of private aviation for both business and pleasure, with clients now seeing it as an essential rather than a luxury expense.

However, private as well as commercial pilots need to complete their training and then re-test regularly in order to keep their licences. Part of this involves training on a simulator identical to the plane they will be flying, but there are now so many different types of private aircraft that getting a slot on a relevant simulator is becoming problematic.

Here, Jim Scott, owner of components solutions specialist Artemis Aerospace, discusses the emergence of 'bespoke' flight simulators in response to this issue and how the company is leading the way in business jet simulator creation.

A simulator, or training device, artificially recreates an aircraft flight. It reacts to internal factors such as the use of flight controls and can reproduce the effects of external ones such as weather, turbulence, air density and wind force.

Artemis Aerospace explores how aircraft operate

             As you sit back in your aeroplane seat and gaze out at the clouds below, you're probably not thinking about exactly what is keeping you in the air – or maybe you're actively trying not to think about it! The experts at Artemis Aerospace take a reassuring look at the essential parts of an aircraft which steer you to your destination.

An average commercial aeroplane weighs between 152.9 and 220.1 tonnes - and this is without adding the passengers, crew and baggage into the equation. It can seem unbelievable that something so incredibly heavy will taxi to the end of the runway and sail up into the sky. However, from the first flight by the Wright brothers in 1903 to 2023, when roughly 100,000 flights take off daily around the globe, this is exactly what happens; aviation is statistically one of the safest forms of transport in the world, with only one crash for every 7.1 million commercial flights.

Aerodynamics is the study of the properties of moving air and the interaction between the air and solid bodies moving through it. The aerodynamic forces of thrust, drag, lift and weight are what enable pilots to control the aircraft and steer it smoothly.

An aeroplane consists of millions of components; a Boeing 747-8, for example, has six million. These make up the main sections of a plane - the fuselage, wings, engines, tail section and landing gears, which all interact during the flight to keep the plane moving through the air. Unlike a car, a plane moves freely in three dimensions:

Rotation around the front to back axis is known as the roll

Rotation around the side-to-side axis is known as the pitch

Rotation around the vertical axis is called the yaw

The pilot has to control all three of these rotations to keep the plane steady and on course.

The fuselage is the main body of the aircraft and provides the foundation for the structure of the plane. It's where the passengers sit and it includes the cockpit, the control centre, so the pilots sit at the front of the fuselage, and it connects all the other parts.

An aeroplane's wings are a complex collection of parts and it's these which are used to steer it in the right direction. They create the upward force which lifts the plane off the ground, and are designed with ailerons and flaps to control roll. Ailerons are hinged surfaces on the lower edge of both wings, and are used in opposite directions, decreasing lift on one wing while increasing it on another, which enables the aircraft to roll to the right or left. The flaps are extended to increase the lift force exercised by the wings and are mostly deployed during take off and landing.

The rise of the electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.......

Electric vertical take-off and landing is one of the very latest innovations in the aerospace industry. Also referred to as a ‘flying car’ or ‘air taxi’, one of these giant drone look-alikes could soon be ferrying you to your destination. Jim Scott, co-founder and managing director of Artemis Aerospace, has a look at a technological achievement which you might spot soaring over your house before too long . . .

We’re used to helicopters whirring overhead, carrying businesspeople to meetings, celebrities to lunch or an air ambulance crew on their way to an incident. We may have spotted a drone as it’s sent up to take an aerial photograph for an estate agent, and any day now we’re expecting one to drop off our latest online parcel order.

However, you may not know this technology has advanced so much that an eVTOL aircraft for the transportation of people now has serious commercial potential, and there are a number of prototypes being designed and developed. In 2021, $6.9 billion was committed to eVTOL startup conceptualisation and manufacture, and this is now coming to fruition, with at least seven versions due to take to the skies in the next few years.

The phrase ‘flying car’ may bring to mind an image of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but the kind of blueprint produced at R&D departments throughout the aviation industry is light years ahead. Major advances in electric propulsion brought about by the rise of sustainable battery-operated cars have given rise to the idea of a quiet, environmentally friendly, and less expensive way of transporting goods and people.

eVTOL aircraft work by electric motors with fixed-pitch propellers, typically using multiple advanced lithium-ion batteries which enable short flights of up to 200 miles. As with cars, charging the batteries will obviously be a crucial part of commercial viability for eVTOLs, as too much AOG (Aircraft on Ground) time would not be market-worthy. Battery systems that can recharge to 100 per cent in half an hour are currently being investigated.

Ready for your next flight? What to eat at 30,000 feet.....

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Mention airline food and most people will readily recount their experiences. This may include the ubiquitous packet of pretzels, but for a first-class menu, how do chefs plan, prepare and produce gourmet food for sky-high consumption? Here, Artemis Aerospace explores the in-flight catering industry and the science behind delivering delicious meals on board.

The multi-million-pound industry of in-flight catering is a topic which arouses heated discussion among frequent flyers. There is even a website dedicated entirely to airline meals and the ratings people have given them, with photos of each dish.

However, creating a gastronomic treat for first class passengers isn’t just a question of premium ingredients and catering expertise. According to research for Lufthansa by the Fraunhofer Institute, salt is perceived to be between 20 and 30% less intense and sugar 15 to 20% less intense at high altitude, and overall almost 70% of your sense of taste is lost. This is due to a combination of factors including the decibel level from the engine noise, and less than 12% humidity, which rivals a desert atmosphere.

As if this weren’t enough, low cabin pressure also decreases blood oxygen levels, which means that your olfactory receptors, which play a critical role in perceiving odours, become less sensitive. Around 85% of what we think of as ‘taste’ is actually due to our sense of smell. So when people accuse airline food of being bland, this may not be an entirely fair assumption!

Interestingly, spicy, bitter, sour and umami flavours are barely affected, garlic being one example, and some foods, like lemongrass and curry, are actually enhanced by airborne eating. It’s a well-documented fact that people will often crave tomato juice while flying, even if it’s not something they usually drink, because at altitude it tastes sweeter and more fruity.

Artemis Aerospace discusses what to eat at 30,000 feet

Mention airline food and most people will readily recount their experiences. This may include the ubiquitous packet of pretzels, but for a first-class menu, how do chefs plan, prepare and produce gourmet food for sky-high consumption? 

Here, Artemis Aerospace explores the in-flight catering industry and the science behind delivering delicious meals on board.

The multi-million-pound industry of in-flight catering is a topic which arouses heated discussion among frequent flyers. There is even a website dedicated entirely to airline meals and the ratings people have given them, with photos of each dish.

However, creating a gastronomic treat for first-class passengers isn't just a question of premium ingredients and catering expertise. According to research for Lufthansa by the Fraunhofer Institute, salt is perceived to be between 20 and 30% less intense and sugar 15 to 20% less intense at high altitude, and overall almost 70% of your sense of taste is lost. This is due to a combination of factors including the decibel level from the engine noise, and less than 12% humidity, which rivals a desert atmosphere.

As if this weren't enough, low cabin pressure also decreases blood oxygen levels, which means that your olfactory receptors, which play a critical role in perceiving odours, become less sensitive. Around 85% of what we think of as 'taste' is actually due to our sense of smell. So when people accuse airline food of being bland, this may not be an entirely fair assumption!

Interestingly, spicy, bitter, sour and umami flavours are barely affected, garlic being one example, and some foods, like lemongrass and curry, are actually enhanced by airborne eating. It's a well-documented fact that people will often crave tomato juice while flying, even if it's not something they usually drink, because at altitude it tastes sweeter and more fruity.

Teams of executive chefs are employed by airlines to experiment with flavours and come up with dishes which are modified to allow for these changes in taste. Natural herbs and spices predominate rather than trying to increase salt levels, as too much sodium contributes to dehydration while in the air. Ingredients with bold flavours, such as mushrooms, hard cheeses, soy, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom and citrus fruits are popular choices, while more subtle flavour enhancers are largely ineffectual.

Once these concessions have been factored into a recipe, individual meals are prepared in state-of-the-art facilities close to the airport. Most airlines don't have full kitchens for health and safety reasons, so an onboard chef is a rarity on commercial flights. A great deal of preparation goes into forecasting upcoming food trends, such as the increasing popularity of plant-based foods or a particular type of world cuisine, and into the accommodation of special dietary requirements. Menus are also rotated to try to avoid people getting the same meal on a return flight.