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Flightpath.
BRINGING ECO-TECHNOLOGY TO THE SKIES: AEROSPACE CUTTING EMISSIONS
WITH FUEL NOW THE LARGEST PROPORTION OF MOST AIRLINES’ COST-BASE, THE PRESSURE IS ON MANUFACTURERS, AS NEVER BEFORE, TO DELIVER NEW GENERATIONS OF INCREASINGLY FUELEFFICIE NT AIRCRAFT AND ENGINES.
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ircraft entering today’s fleet are well over 70% more fuelefficient than they were in the 1960s and most of the industry’s current research and development (R&D) initiatives are dedicated to ensuring this trend will continue for generations to come. The investment is significant. It is estimated that the civil aerospace industries in Europe and North America alone spend over $20 billion each year on R&D, most of which will bring about emissions reductions. Over the next few years, a new range of lean-burning engines will enter the market along with lighter but stronger airframe materials and electrically-driven aircraft systems which will replace today’s heavy mechanical and hydraulic power units — lowering fuel costs further. There is an important spin-off to this economy drive — each tonne of fuel saved also means 3.15 tonnes fewer carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In this article, we take a look at the technology developments from the main aircraft and engine manufacturers.
1_The Bombardier CSeries ‘FTV1’ or Flight Test Vehicle 1 sits on the tarmac ahead of its first test flight.
This year saw the first flight of the all-new Airbus A350 XWB bringing together the very latest in aerodynamics, design and advanced technologies. Over 70% of the A350 XWB’s airframe is made from advanced materials, combining 53% of composite structures with titanium and advanced aluminium alloys. The aircraft’s all-new carbon fibre reinforced plastic fuselage results in lower fuel consumption giving a related reduction in emissions. The A320neo is due to fly in 2014 and will provide 15% savings in fuel burn and CO2 emissions and will be 50% quieter than current aircraft noise standards. Those A320 family aircraft equipped with ‘sharklets’, large wingtip devices, are already providing up to 4% fuel efficiency for airlines. Some potential technologies that could define future aircraft characteristics include advanced aerodynamics, such as Airbus’ laminarflow wing aerodynamics. The laminarflow aerofoil section could reduce fuel burn by up to 10% in whole-span applications. The target is to reduce the drag of the wing by up to 25% in cruise flight, which would translate to a total aircraft drag reduction of between 5% and 6%. »
[BOMBARDIER AEROSPACE]