A Parametric Life Cycle Approach for Circular and Sustainable Aircraft Design

Abstract

In the transition toward clean aviation, assessing sustainability across the full life cycle of aircraft is essential. This study presents a parametric Python-based tool integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) to support circular design applied to passenger aircraft. The model enables cradle-to-grave evaluation of environmental and economic impacts, in line with ISO 14,040/44 standards, and allows the inclusion of detailed data on materials, fuel use, structural components, and end-of-life processes. The tool aims to guide design decisions by balancing environmental performance, economic feasibility, and—prospectively—social considerations. Results confirm the value of integrated life cycle methodologies in reducing aviation’s footprint, and highlight the need for richer datasets and the potential role of AI in design optimization. Expanding the model to include social impact metrics represents a promising next step for truly holistic sustainability assessments in the aviation sector.