26 August 2020: ecoDemonstrator – one of the most challenging and excellent initiative by Boeing at achieving sustainable aviation. But the question looms, how far will the ecoDemonstrator programme go to achieve the results they are aiming for? True, the programme is currently under testing stage after rigorous planning for over a year where flights are being flown on a blend of up to 50 per cent sustainable fuel including largest volumes of 50 per cent blend of commercially produced biofuel.
The entire aviation industry has come together to reduce carbon footprints and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Almost all the aerospace industries mainly the aircraft manufacturers and airlines are putting in added efforts to reduce pollution from aviation. Many airlines are now opting for biofuels as a safer alternative to jet fuel, multiple advantages like less noise pollution and a clean, and environment friendly flight.
The ecoDemonstrator tests are carried by Etihad under their industry-leading strategic partnership with Boeing during which a Boeing 787-10 is being used for the first time for the ecoDemonstrator programme since the testing started in 2012. Flight testing is currently being carried out at Boeing’s facility in Glasgow post which the Etihad Airways 787-10 Dreamliner with special equipment will be delivered to Etihad.
Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad Aviation Group Chief Operating Officer, said, “ Our participation builds on our core innovation and sustainability tenets while supporting the research and development of our partners to bring innovation from the laboratory to a real world testing environment.”
NASA and Safran have joined hands with Boeing in this ambitious project. The collaboration between NASA and Boeing will improve the aircraft noise prediction capabilities, advance ways for pilots to reduce noise and inform future quiet aircraft designs.
When asked about the noise pollution studies at NASA, Dr. Russell Thomas, NASA technical lead said, “At NASA, we’ve been researching the individual airplane noise sources, their interactions with the airframe and how they combine to the total aircraft noise. This unique, carefully designed flight test provides the environment where all these effects are measured, which will be key to advancing our ability to design lower-noise aircraft.”
To check noise pollution, there will be over 1200 microphones attached to the outside of Dreamliner 787 and positioned on the ground and a series of flights will gather the detailed information about aircraft acoustics.
The most common noise during the flight is during take-off and landing, the screeching sound coming from the landing gears amounts to about one-quarter of the noise. Safran Landing Systems have jumped in the fray to test the landing gear to be quieter in comparison.
Giving her opinion on the strategic partnership, ecoDemonstrator Program Chief Engineer Rae Lutters said, “Our collaboration with NASA and Safran is key to accelerating innovation and furthering the ecoDemonstrator’s mission to improve the sustainability of air travel.”
Mohammad Al Bulooki further added, “By choosing to take part in this programme we are proud to work with the likes of Boeing, NASA and Safran to test cutting-edge technologies and explore “blue sky” opportunities to improve airspace efficiency, reduce fuel use, lower noise for the community and cut CO2 emissions. Sustainability remains a priority for Etihad in spite of the current Covid19 crisis and this is just one initiative we’ve taken since the start of the pandemic to continue our drive for sustainable aviation. As far as Etihad is concerned, environmental sustainability shouldn’t be an option or fair-weather project to be shelved when it’s not convenient against other challenges.”
Tests will be conducted on two flights using NASA’s tailored arrival management. By using this technology, the pilots, air traffic controllers and airline operators will be able to share digital information simultaneously. Also these tools enhance safety by reducing workload and radio frequency congestion, optimise routing efficiency to lower fuel use, emissions and noise, and support the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System.
With the technology in place, the world is waiting in anticipation to see a carbon neutral flight soaring through the skies. All the best ecoDemonstrator!
