Living duration or span
Airbus, a global leader in the aviation industry, is making significant strides towards a more sustainable future. The company is not only contributing to the goal of sustainable aviation but also pioneering innovative projects and collaborations that could revolutionise the way aircraft operate.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs)
Airbus is actively promoting the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs). All Airbus aircraft can currently operate with up to a 50% SAF blend, and the company aims to enable 100% SAF capability by 2030. Airbus is partnering with various organisations, such as Air France, Safran, and Total, to develop a domestic biofuel industry in France and demonstrate flights powered by innovative biofuels derived from renewable feedstocks like sugar-processing technology.
Technological and Aerodynamic Innovations
Airbus's commitment to sustainability is evident in its technological and aerodynamic innovations. The Airbus C295 Flight Test Bed 2 (FTB#2), part of the Clean Sky 2 program, demonstrates significant improvements in fuel efficiency and emissions reduction. This demonstrator integrates advanced aerodynamics, innovative flight controls, and new materials to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 43%, NOx by 70%, and noise by 45% in regional aircraft scenarios.
Innovative Projects Like fello’fly
One such innovative project is the fello’fly demonstrator, which takes inspiration from migrating geese to investigate wake-energy retrieval for potential fuel savings. Although specific details about the project are not widely available, it aligns with Airbus’s overarching goal of optimising operational efficiencies and reducing emissions through advanced flight management and control technologies.
Air Traffic Management and Hybrid Propulsion
Airbus is also engaging with emerging hybrid propulsion technologies, integrating electric assistance with conventional engines to further improve fuel efficiency and lower emissions. This is part of broader industry trends toward hybrid systems that improve operational sustainability through reduced fuel consumption and emissions.
Collaborations for a Sustainable Future
Airbus is working with various partners to optimise in-flight operational efficiency. For instance, Airbus is collaborating with its NavBlue subsidiary to develop modern air traffic management procedures. Additionally, Airbus is heavily involved in the ITAKA European initiative to speed up the commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel in Europe.
The air transportation sector is committed to sustainable aviation, with increasing fuel efficiency as a key element. Many airline customers have benefited from the sustainable fuel programme developed by Airbus and Air Total, designed for the trip of newly-delivered aircraft to their home bases. Initial evaluations of the fello'fly demonstrator project suggest a possible 5-10% fuel savings per trip with the application of wake-energy retrieval in airline service.
In summary, Airbus's future plans revolve around achieving full SAF capability by 2030, scaling biofuel supply chains, continuing aerodynamic and material innovations, fostering hybrid propulsion technologies, and leveraging collaborative projects that integrate sustainability with operational and technological advances. These initiatives collectively support the aviation sector’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
- Airbus, in its endeavor to foster environmental-science and finance-driven collaborations, is partnering with various organizations like Air France, Safran, and Total, to not only promote the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) but also develop a domestic biofuel industry in France, contributing to the goal of sustainable aviation.
- The company's commitment to technology extends beyond traditional aerodynamics, with projects like fello’fly, which takes inspiration from migrating geese to investigate wake-energy retrieval for potential fuel savings, aligning with Airbus’s goal of optimizing operational efficiencies and reducing emissions through advanced flight management and control technologies.
