Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) & Aircraft Design Course for Aerospace Engineers by AIAA & HYSKY Society
- HYSKY Society
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
AIAA and HYSKY Society Launch New Professional Development Program Covering Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Aircraft Design, Propulsion Systems, Airport Infrastructure, and Aviation Decarbonization
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and HYSKY Society are pleased to announce the launch of Advanced Sustainable Aviation Fuels and Aircraft Design, a new professional education program designed to equip aerospace engineers, aircraft designers, propulsion specialists, airport planners, and aviation sustainability professionals with the technical expertise needed to navigate aviation's transition toward lower-carbon operations.
From 22 September–22 October 2026 (5 Weeks, 11 Classes, 22 Total Hours)
Every Tuesday and Thursday at 12-2 p.m. CT USA (all sessions will be recorded and available for replay; course notes will be available for download)
11th class will take place right after the 10th class on the last Thursday
In this new joint course from AIAA and HYSKY Society, the latest and greatest in Sustainable Aviation Fuels is presented, with a technical emphasis on Aircraft Design.
All students will receive an AIAA Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.
For information, group discounts, and private course pricing, contact:
Lisa Le, Education Specialist (lisal@aiaa.org)
Course Details
Dates: September 22 – October 22, 2026
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM Central Time
Format: Live Online
Duration: 22 Hours Total 11 Live Classes
Evaluation: Optional design mini‑project / worked example
Replay All sessions will be recorded and available for replay; course notes will be available for download
Course Fees
Registration Type | Price |
AIAA Member | $995 USD |
AIAA Student Member | $545 USD |
Non-Member | $1,195 USD |
Why Sustainable Aviation Fuel Matters for Aircraft Designers
Sustainable Aviation Fuel is emerging as one of the most important tools available for reducing aviation emissions while leveraging existing aircraft fleets and airport infrastructure.
However, understanding SAF requires much more than understanding fuel production.
Aircraft designers, propulsion engineers, airport planners, and airline technical teams increasingly need to understand:
How SAF affects aircraft performance
How fuel properties influence engine operability
How SAF impacts emissions and fuel efficiency
How airport infrastructure must evolve
How lifecycle carbon intensity is calculated
How future aircraft architectures may integrate SAF, hydrogen, and electrification
How certification requirements affect implementation
This course addresses these topics through a practical engineering lens.
What Participants Will Learn
Participants will develop a technically rigorous understanding of:
SAF combustion characteristics and engine integration
Aircraft design implications of alternative fuels
Fuel system design and materials compatibility
Airport infrastructure and SAF logistics
Lifecycle assessment (LCA) and carbon accounting
Techno-economic analysis (TEA)
Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO)
Fuel-aware aircraft conceptual design
Hybrid-electric aircraft architectures
Aviation sustainability frameworks and certification requirements
The course examines certified SAF pathways including:
Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA)
Fischer-Tropsch Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (FT-SPK)
Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ)
Power-to-Liquid (PtL)
Course Modules
Module 1: Combustion, Engine Integration & Emissions with SAF
Explore SAF combustion behavior, fuel efficiency impacts, emissions formation, contrail reduction potential, non-CO₂ climate effects, and propulsion system integration.
Module 2: Aircraft & Propulsion System Design with Alternative Fuels
Examine how SAF, hydrogen, LNG, and electric propulsion technologies influence aircraft sizing, propulsion architectures, payload-range capability, and hybrid-electric aircraft design.
Module 3: Materials Compatibility, Fuel Systems & Safety with SAF
Learn how SAF interacts with fuel systems, elastomers, composites, certification requirements, maintenance practices, and long-term fleet operations.
Module 4: Airport Infrastructure, Logistics & Cross-Border SAF Supply Chains
Understand fuel production pathways, airport integration, fuel logistics, supply chain economics, sustainability certification, and airport energy systems.
Module 5: MDO & Digital Frameworks for Fuel–Aircraft Co-Design
Explore multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO), fuel-aware aircraft design methodologies, hybrid-electric aircraft modeling, and sustainability-focused aircraft optimization.
Module 6: Sustainability, Lifecycle Assessment & Carbon Intensity
Learn lifecycle carbon accounting, CORSIA requirements, indirect land-use change (ILUC), book-and-claim systems, and methods for evaluating aviation fuel sustainability.
Featured Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Instructors
The course brings together experts from Boeing, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the University of Michigan, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Manchester.
Dr. Swapnil Jagtap
Assistant Professor, University of Manchester; Director, FlyCLean Laboratory
Expert in sustainable aviation, sustainable aviation fuels, hydrogen aviation, aircraft systems design, and propulsion technologies.
Organization: https://www.manchester.ac.uk
Dr. Matthew Clarke
Assistant Professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Founder, Laboratory for Electric Aircraft Design and Sustainability (L.E.A.D.S.)
Specialist in aircraft design, electric propulsion, hybrid-electric aviation, and aerospace optimization.
Organization: https://aerospace.illinois.edu
Dr. Carlos Mourao
Technical Fellow, Boeing
Expert in aircraft design, propulsion integration, fuel systems, certification, and multidisciplinary aircraft optimization.
Organization: https://www.boeing.com
Dr. Stephen McCord
Research Area Specialist Lead, Global CO₂ Initiative, University of Michigan
Specialist in techno-economic analysis (TEA), lifecycle assessment (LCA), SAF economics, and carbon intensity modeling.
Organization: https://me.engin.umich.edu/people/staff/stephen-mccord/
Dr. Eva Maleviti
Assistant Professor of Aeronautics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Researcher and author specializing in sustainable aviation, aviation decarbonization, lifecycle assessment, and environmental impacts of air transportation.
Organization: https://erau.edu
Full SAF Course Class Schedule
Module | Class | Date & Time (CT) | Topic | Instructor | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1.1 | Tue Sep 22, 2026 12–2 PM | SAF Combustion Fundamentals, Fuel Efficiency and Experimental Evidence | Dr. Swapnil Jagtap | 2 hours |
1.2 | Thu. Sep 24, 2026 12–2 PM | Engine Integration, Operability, Fuel Efficiency and Non‑CO₂ Impacts | To be announced | 2 hours | |
2 | 2.1 | Tue Sep 29, 2026 12–2 PM | Fuel‑Driven Constraints and Fuel Efficiency in Aircraft & Propulsion System Design | Dr. Swapnil Jagtap | 2 hours |
2.2 | Thu Oct 1, 2026 12–2 PM | Hybrid‑Electric Regional Aircraft Case Study, Fuel Efficiency and Design Trades | Dr. Matthew Clarke | 2 hours | |
3 | 3.1 | Tue Oct 6, 2026 12–2 PM | Fuel Properties, Materials Behaviour and System‑Level Implications | Dr. Carlos Mourao | 2 hours |
3.2 | Thu Oct 8, 2026 12–2 PM | Design & Certification of SAF‑Compatible Fuel Systems | Dr. Carlos Mourao | 2 hours | |
4 | 4.1 | Tue Oct 13, 2026 12–2 PM | SAF Supply Chains, Production Pathways and Blending Infrastructure | Dr. Stephen McCord | 2 hours |
4.2 | Thu Oct 15, 2026 12–2 PM | Airport Integration, Turnaround Operations and Cross‑Border Considerations | Dr. Stephen McCord | 2 hours | |
5 | 5.1 | Tue Oct 20, 2026 12–2 PM | Tools and Methods for Fuel‑Aware Aircraft Design | Dr. Carlos Mourao | 2 hours |
5.2 | Thu Oct 22, 2026 12–2 PM | Fuel–Aircraft–Operations Co‑Design Project | Dr. Carlos Mourao | 2 hours | |
6 | 6.1 | Tue Oct 22, 2026 2–4 PM | Sustainability, Life-Cycle Assessment & Calculating the Carbon Intensity of Fuels | Dr. Eva Maleviti | 2 hours |
Who Should Attend?
This course is designed for:
Aerospace engineers
Aircraft designers
Propulsion engineers
Combustion specialists
Fuel system engineers
Airport planners
Aviation sustainability professionals
Airline technical teams
Researchers
Graduate engineering students
Sustainable aviation professionals
Government agencies: FAA, Transport Canada, EASA, etc.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels Plus Aircraft Design
Unlike many SAF programs that focus primarily on policy, sustainability reporting, or fuel production pathways, Advanced Sustainable Aviation Fuels and Aircraft Design takes an engineering-first approach. Participants will examine how fuel choice influences aircraft design, propulsion systems, fuel efficiency, airport infrastructure, certification requirements, lifecycle emissions, and future aviation energy pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?
Sustainable Aviation Fuel is a renewable or low-carbon aviation fuel designed to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions while remaining compatible with existing aircraft and airport infrastructure.
How does SAF compare with conventional jet fuel?
SAF can significantly reduce lifecycle emissions while maintaining operational compatibility with today's aircraft and fueling systems.
How does SAF affect aircraft design?
Fuel properties influence aircraft performance, propulsion integration, emissions, certification requirements, and operational efficiency.
What SAF pathways are covered in this course?
HEFA, FT-SPK, ATJ, and Power-to-Liquid (PtL) pathways.
What is Power-to-Liquid SAF?
PtL fuels are synthetic aviation fuels produced using renewable electricity, hydrogen, and captured carbon dioxide.
What role does hydrogen play in SAF production?
Hydrogen is a key feedstock for synthetic SAF production pathways, particularly Power-to-Liquid fuels.
How does SAF compare with hydrogen aviation?
SAF can leverage existing infrastructure, while hydrogen may require new aircraft architectures and airport fueling systems.
Can aircraft operate on 100% SAF?
Several pathways are progressing toward approval for 100% use. The course examines certification frameworks and technical considerations surrounding high-blend and neat SAF.
What is lifecycle carbon intensity?
Lifecycle carbon intensity measures total greenhouse gas emissions associated with a fuel across production, transportation, distribution, and use.
What is CORSIA?
CORSIA is ICAO's global framework for reducing international aviation emissions and establishing sustainability criteria for aviation fuels.
How does airport infrastructure support SAF deployment?
Airport integration includes storage, blending, transportation logistics, sustainability tracking, and fuel quality management.
What is multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO)?
MDO is an engineering methodology that simultaneously evaluates performance, structures, propulsion, economics, sustainability, and operations to optimize aircraft designs.
How long is the course?
The course consists of 11 live sessions delivered over five weeks for a total of 22 instructional hours.
What makes this course different from other SAF courses?
Most SAF programs focus on policy or fuel production. This course focuses on how Sustainable Aviation Fuel affects aircraft design, propulsion systems, airport infrastructure, certification, lifecycle emissions, and future aviation technologies.
Register Today
As Sustainable Aviation Fuel deployment accelerates worldwide, aerospace professionals need a deeper understanding of how fuel choices influence aircraft design, propulsion systems, infrastructure planning, emissions performance, and long-term sustainability.
Registration:
For information, group discounts, and private course pricing, contact:
Lisa Le, Education Specialist (lisal@aiaa.org)
