Lufthansa Technik received EASA certification for its AeroSHARK coating, which was designed to reduce friction between the air and the aircraft, thus lowering fuel consumption and harmful gas emissions. This coating was already in use on an aircraft of SWISS, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group.
The AeroSHARK film is a joint development of Lufthansa Technik and BASF. Thanks to its surface structure of microscopic ribs called riblets, this coating reduces aerodynamic drag. As a result, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced by around 1%. For each Boeing 777-300ER operated by SWISS, this means annual savings of around 400 tons of fuel and more than 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide.
The modification of the SWISS 777-300ER registration HB-JNH was implemented at the end of August. Certification flights were carried out on September 8 and 9. These showed that the coating had no negative impact on operational safety. Subsequently, the aircraft continued to operate for the airline under a special flight permit.
Related content: SWISS is the world’s first airline to use AeroSHARK technology
Now, the coating was approved through an EASA supplemental type certificate (STC), which paves the way for serial modification. «The approval for Boeing 777s will allow the distribution of this new technology, which aims to help the sustainability of air transport, to begin,» said Soeren Stark, CEO of Lufthansa Technik.
According to Lufthansa, aircraft are already scheduled to receive the new film early next year. In addition, other aircraft models should follow the 777 in the short term: «We intend to apply this technology to other aircraft types,» added Stark.
SWISS and Lufthansa Cargo will successively equip their twelve 777-300ERs and eleven 777Fs with the AeroSHARK film. They will thus be the first passenger and cargo airlines in the world to use this type of emission-reducing technology. When all of the group’s 777s are coated with the material, the airline said it will reduce its annual emissions by more than 25,000 tons.
