System and methods for implementing regional air transit network using hybrid-electric aircraft

An air transport system, comprising:

• a plurality of hybrid-electric powered aircraft, wherein each of the aircraft further comprises
• a source of energy, the source of energy including a source of stored electrical energy and a source of generated energy;
• a powertrain, the powertrain operable to receive as an input energy from the source of energy and in response to operate one or more electrically powered motors;
• one or more propulsors, wherein each propulsor is coupled to at least one of the one or more electrically powered motors;
• an electronic processor programmed with a first set of instructions, which when executed provide one or more functions or processes for managing the operation of the aircraft, wherein these functions or processes include a function or process for
• determining a status of the amount of stored electrical energy and generator fuel presently available to the aircraft;
• determining an amount of stored electrical energy and generator fuel required to enable the aircraft to reach its intended destination;
• determining an amount of energy that could be generated by the source of generated electrical energy presently available to the aircraft;
• determining how to optimally draw energy from the sources of stored electrical energy and generated energy;
• and
• in event of failure or abnormal operation of a component of the powertrain, determining a reconfiguration of the powertrain and a revised control strategy for continued flight;
• an electronic processor programmed with a second set of instructions, which when executed provide one or more functions or processes for planning a flight for the aircraft, wherein these functions or processes include a function or process for
• accessing data regarding the total amount of stored electrical energy and generator fuel presently available to the aircraft;
• determining if the amount of stored electrical energy and generator fuel presently available to the aircraft is sufficient to enable the aircraft to reach its intended destination, wherein this includes consideration of a first aircraft operating mode wherein stored energy is used exclusively and consideration of a second aircraft operating mode wherein a combination of stored electrical energy and generated energy is used;
• if the amount of stored electrical energy and generator fuel presently available to the aircraft is sufficient to enable the aircraft to reach its intended destination, then planning a route to the intended destination;
• if the amount of stored electrical energy and generator fuel presently available to the aircraft is sufficient to enable the aircraft to reach its intended destination, then planning how to optimally draw energy from the sources of stored electrical energy and generated energy over the planned route to the intended destination;
• and
• if the amount of stored electrical energy and generator fuel presently available to the aircraft is insufficient to enable the aircraft to reach its intended destination, then planning a route to an intermediate destination, wherein planning a route to an intermediate destination further includes
• determining one or more possible energy and/or fuel providers;
• determining if available stored energy and generator fuel are sufficient to reach at least one of the providers;
• generating a route to the at least one provider;
• and
• planning how to optimally draw energy over the route;
• and
• a communications element or elements operable to enable data from the aircraft to be transferred to a remote data processing platform or operator and to receive data from the remote data processing platform or operator for exchanging data regarding one or more of route planning or recharge and refuel sources;
• a plurality of aircraft take-off or landing sites, wherein each take-off or landing site includes a recharge and refuel platform operable to provide recharging services for a source of stored electrical energy and fuel for a source of generated energy;
• and
• a data processing system or platform, wherein the data processing system or platform is operable to provide route planning data to one or more of the plurality of hybrid powered aircraft.

A non-transitory computer readable medium on which are contained a set of instructions, wherein when executed by a programmed electronic processing element, the set of instructions cause an apparatus containing the electronic processing element to:

• determine a status of the amount of stored electrical energy and generator fuel presently available to a hybrid-electric powered aircraft;
• determine an amount of stored electrical energy and generator fuel required to enable the hybrid-electric powered aircraft to reach its intended destination;
• and
• determine an amount of energy that could be generated by a source of generated energy presently available to the hybrid-electric powered aircraft;
• determine how to optimally draw energy from the sources of stored electrical energy and generated energy;
• and
• in event of failure or abnormal operation of a component of the powertrain, determining a reconfiguration of the powertrain and a revised control strategy for continued flight.