Lufthansa Technik and BASF are working on a joint project, AeroSHARK, a surface film that mimics the fine structure of a shark’s skin, thereby reducing aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption.
AeroSHARK is to be rolled out on Lufthansa Cargo’s entire freighter fleet from the beginning of 2022, making the aircraft more economical and reducing emissions.
The surface structure consisting of riblets measuring around 50 micrometers imitates the properties of sharkskin and therefore optimizes the aerodynamics on flow-related parts of the aircraft. This means that less fuel is needed overall.
For Lufthansa Cargo’s Boeing 777F freighters, Lufthansa Technik estimates a drag reduction of more than one percent. For the entire fleet of ten aircraft, this translates to annual savings of around 3,700 tons of kerosene and just under 11,700 tons of CO2 emissions, which is the equivalent of 48 individual freight flights from Frankfurt to Shanghai.
“Responsibility for the environment and society is a key strategic topic for us,” said Christina Foerster, Member of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa with responsibility for sustainability. “We have always played a leading role in introducing environmentally friendly technologies. The new sharkskin technology for aircraft shows what strong and highly innovative partners can achieve collectively for the environment. This will help us to achieve our goal of climate neutrality by 2050.”
“The aviation industry is facing similar challenges to the chemical industry: ongoing progress must be made with climate protection despite high energy requirements. By collaborating closely and successfully combining our know-how in surface design and aerodynamics, we have now succeeded in taking a major step forward,” said Dr. Markus Kamieth, Member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF.
“We are proud that we will now be able to operate our entire freighter fleet even more efficiently in the future thanks to sharkskin technology and reduce the carbon footprint of our modern fleet further,” said Dorothea von Boxberg, Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Cargo.
Lufthansa Technik is responsible for the material specification, approval by the aviation authorities and performance of aircraft modifications carried out as part of regular maintenance layovers. The company will obtain a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the 777F from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is required for operation.
“We have always used our wealth of expertise as a global market leader in technical aircraft services to also contribute to reducing the ecological footprint of our industry. In doing so, we can leverage significant savings potential from all aircraft generations,” explains Dr. Johannes Bussmann, Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Technik AG. “The extremely constructive collaboration with BASF is also the best example of cross-sector cooperation in the interest of the sustainability of the aviation industry.”
TransNusa is set to become the first foreign airline to operate from Sultan Abdul Aziz Airport, commonly known as Subang…
SATS Ltd, a Singapore-based provider of air cargo handling services and food solutions, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding…
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has chosen the Swedish-manufactured SAAB JAS 39E/F Gripen over the American Lockheed Martin F-16…
Batik Air Malaysia has unveiled two new routes from Kuala Lumpur to Thailand, with Hat Yai and Krabi being the…
Boeing and Emirates SkyCargo have announced an order for five additional 777 freighters. The purchase takes Emirates' order book to 245…
Boeing aircraft will be conspicuous by their near-total absence from the show, but the American OEM is expected to walk…
Eve Air Mobility will provide an update on key program milestones, including its first full-scale prototype, at the Farnborough Air…
Boeing, which is not bringing any of its commercial jets to this year's Farnborough Airshow, will instead focus on highlighting…
Gulfstream Aerospace has appointed Smitha Hariharan as vice president and chief sustainability officer, effective immediately. In the newly created role,…
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has been upgraded to an 'A' credit rating by S&P Global Ratings, with a stable outlook.…
Qantas will likely use a North Pole route to achieve its Project Sunrise Sydney to London nonstop with the A350-1000…
Fincantieri marked an important milestone with the launch of the seventh PPA (Multipurpose Combat Ship), named "Domenico Millelire," at the…
Sierra Space Corporation, in collaboration with Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., Kanematsu Corporation, and Oita Prefecture, has announced the inclusion of…
The Malaysian Army has recently announced a tender inviting local companies to supply and deliver 800 M72 Light Anti-tank Weapon…
China has proposed supplying the Type 052D destroyer to the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) as part of a broader effort…
Following the recent signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan, reports suggest that the Philippines…
The U.S. military has awarded SRC, Inc. a contract worth USD 25 million to develop the Long-Range Radar, a large…
Australia’s largest international air combat training exercise, Exercise Pitch Black, is set to take place from 12 July to 2…
The Spanish space launcher company, PLD Space, has secured a EUR31.2 million syndicated loan with Banco Santander, EBN Banco, and…
Malaysia Airlines’ inaugural A330neo has been unveiled in Toulouse, proudly displaying the airline’s distinctive Malaysia flag livery. This milestone marks…
IFS, a Sweden-based provider of cloud and industrial AI software, has announced the acquisition of EmpowerMX - an AI-powered aviation…
The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) launched two new Dorang-class patrol vessels in Serang, Banten province, on Friday (Jul. 12). Constructed…
Vietjet, in partnership with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos, has announced a new agreement aimed at…
China Southern Airlines (CSN) and Malaysia Airlines (MAS) have expanded their codeshare flights to encompass three new routes: Guangzhou-Penang, Kuala…
Saudi Arabia has ordered four additional Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for the Royal Saudi Arabia Air…
Embraer's brand-new E-Freighter, the E190F, will make its first public appearance at the Farnborough International Airshow that will take place…
WestJet Cargo has announced the launch of its new Campus'Air service, aimed at providing affordable shipping solutions for students and…
SITA has reported a record revenue of nearly US$ 1.5 billion for 2023, marking a 7% increase from the previous…
ASELSAN achieved a significant milestone in its space research and satellite payload development with the successful launch of the TURKSAT-6A…
Japan and the Philippines have formalised a defence pact through the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), aimed at facilitating joint exercises…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2024 GBP all rights reserved.