20 July 2020: The aviation industry is geared up to reduce environmental pollution and many aerospace companies are stepping up to this challenge. Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is the global mantra of aviation sector and every company is doing its part to reduce carbon emission and noise pollution, thereby making aviation one of the safer and healthier modes of transport. As a part of this initiative Boeing has introduced the ecoDemonstrator program. This program aims at using commercial aircraft to test various innovations and technologies for safer and sustainable environment. The testing of the program will start in August 2020 with the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. These test flights will use sustainable fuel to reduce carbon footprint.
Etihad has joined hands with Boeing to be a part of this program. Both the companies have extended their sustainability alliance of November 2019. As a part of the agreement, tests to reduce emission and noise pollution will be conducted on B787-10 Dreamliner before Etihad takes delivery of the aircraft towards year-end. Other industry partners like NASA and Safran Landing Systems have also joined hands to conduct aircraft noise measurements from sensors on the airplane and the ground.
“This is the latest program under Etihad’s industry-leading strategic partnership with Boeing, focusing on innovating real-world solutions to the key sustainability challenges facing the aviation industry,” Etihad Aviation Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Douglas said. “The ecoDemonstrator program is founded on innovation and sustainability and these are core values for Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates. Etihad and Boeing see a great opportunity to collaborate and share knowledge to minimize the impact of aviation on the environment.”
“Industry collaboration is a key aspect of Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator program that enables us to accelerate innovation,” said Stan Deal, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO. “We’re proud to broaden our sustainability partnership with Etihad Airways by testing promising technologies that can reduce emissions, help commercial aviation meet our climate goals, and allow the industry to grow in a responsible manner that respects our planet and its natural resources.”
The data received from test flights will be used to study the noise emissions and reduction potential of aircraft designs including landing gears meant for quieter operations. Also, digital information will be shared between pilots, air traffic controllers and an airline’s operations centre to reduce workload and radio frequency operations for enhanced safety and routing efficiency.
