Project Description:
In recent years, climate change has increased the frequency of disaster events of all kinds, and floods and forest fires represent some of the most pressing threats - floods represent 40 percent of all disasters, and forest fires burn twice as much annually than they did only 20 years ago. Accordingly, it is important to implement a system that can provide relief to people affected by these disasters. The Humanitarian Response Airplane Fleet project aims to design a globally distributed fleet of aircraft capable of rapidly delivering essential supplies—such as medical kits, fresh water, and nonperishable food—to areas affected by natural disasters including floods, fires, earthquakes, and tornadoes. Leveraging existing municipal and rural airfields near disaster-prone regions, the fleet will utilize a twin-engine aircraft with short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities to operate efficiently in constrained environments. Each aircraft will be crewed by a captain, first officer, and load master, and designed to carry 1,500 lbs of palletized cargo along with onboard loading equipment for autonomous operations. With a mission radius of 800 miles, cruising altitudes between 10,000–15,000 ft, and an operational ceiling of 30,000 ft, the aircraft must also reserve fuel for loitering and return flights. This fleet will serve as a vital logistical backbone for first responders, ensuring timely and reliable delivery of life-saving resources to isolated or displaced communities..
