Tag: fuel efficiency

United Airlines Takes Delivery of Fuel Efficient 737 MAX 9

News (EN)

CO2 emissions significantly reduced compared with older generation aircraft

Chicago, April 23, 2018: United Airlines announced today that it has taken delivery of its first 737 MAX 9 aircraft from the BoeingDelivery Center in Seattle, WA. The new aircraft, which arrived right after Earth Day, reduces fuel use and CO2 emissions significantly compared with older generation aircraft. In honor of this more eco-friendly aircraft, United has given the MAX a new livery, similar to its fuel-efficient Boeing Dreamliner aircraft, so that employees and customers can easily recognize the plane and its superior fuel efficiency.

United expects to take delivery of two more 737 MAX 9 aircraft this month, and will have ten 737 MAX 9 aircraft by the end of 2018. As previously announced, the aircraft will enter United’s schedule June 7 with service between the airline’s hub at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport and five cities – Anchorage, Alaska; Austin, Texas; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Orlando, FL. and San Diego. The aircraft will operate on additional routes from Houston and Los Angeles International Airport starting June 29.

United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 4,600 flights a day to 354 airports across five continents. In 2017, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 148 million customers. For more information, please visit united.com.

The Boeing 737 MAX 9 reduces fuel use and CO2 emissions significantly compared with older generation aircraft

Source: United Airlines

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Boeing’s 787-10 Dreamliner Cleared for Commercial Service by FAA

News (EN)
sustainable aviation

25 % better fuel per seat and emissions than current airplanes

Everett, Wash., Jan. 22, 2018: Boeing announced today the 787-10 Dreamliner received an amended type certificate (ATC) from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), clearing the airplane for commercial service.

The awarding of ATC caps a successful flight test program that began in March 2017 and involved three flight test airplanes that accumulated about 900 test hours. Boeing’s flight test program team took the airplanes through a series of tests to confirm the airplane’s handling, systems and overall performance met internal requirements and certification standards to ensure safety of flight.

Other aviation regulatory agencies are expected to follow the FAA’s lead and certify the airplane before it enters service.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a family of super-efficient airplanes with new passenger-pleasing features. As a stretch of the 787-9, the 787-10 retains over 95 percent commonality while adding seats and cargo capacity, setting a new benchmark for fuel efficiency and operating economics at 25 percent better fuel per seat and emissions than the airplanes it will replace. The airplane can fly 330 passengers, in a typical two-class configuration, up to 6,430 nautical miles (11,910 km).

To date, Boeing has over 170 orders for the 787-10 from nine customers worldwide. First delivery is expected to Singapore Airlines in the first half of 2018.

sustainable aviation

Boeing Flight Test & Evaluation, Boeing Field, Seattle, Flight Test, 787-10 Dreamliner, ZC001, Test 004-04, Flutter, puffy clouds, Eastern washington

Source: Boeing

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Rolls-Royce Sets New Aerospace Record with UltraFan® Power Gearbox

sNews (EN)
sustainable aviation

25% fuel efficiency improvement over the first generation of Rolls-Royce Trent engines

Dahlewitz, Germany, September 4, 2017: Rolls-Royce today announced that it has set a new record for the world’s most powerful aerospace gearbox, just months after testing began. Speaking at the International Society for Air Breathing Engines (ISABE) conference in Manchester, UK, Paul Stein, Chief Technology Officer at Rolls-Royce, confirmed that the Power Gearbox had successfully reached 70,000 horsepower while on test at Rolls-Royce’s dedicated facility in Dahlewitz, Germany. The Power Gearbox will play a central role in the company’s next-generation UltraFan® engine, helping to deliver improved efficiency over a wide range of thrusts.

Testing of the first demonstrator gearbox began on a specifically designed rig in May and having proven that the Power Gearbox is capable of managing the equivalent power of around 400 family cars at full throttle, testing will now focus on lower power functions such as endurance and reliability.

Rolls-Royce’s Power Gearbox is designed to run all the way up to 100,000 horsepower and future demonstrators are expected to achieve these levels. When running at maximum power, each pair of teeth on the gearbox will transmit more power than an entire grid of Formula 1 cars between them.

The Power Gearbox has a planetary design, with each ‘planet’ capable of holding the force of a Trent XWB engine at full throttle. It is designed to allow the shafts at the core of the engine to run at very high speeds while allowing the fan at the front of the engine to run at a slower speed. The associated improvement in efficiency and reduction in weight will allow the UltraFan engine to offer a 25% fuel efficiencyimprovement over the first generation of Rolls-Royce Trent engines.

Commenting on the milestone, Paul Stein, Rolls-Royce – Chief Technology Officer, said: “Setting this record is a great achievement for the team and I’m proud we’ve managed to get there so quickly. Our Power Gearbox technology is central to the success of the next generation of Rolls-Royce jet engines and I’m pleased to see us pushing back engineering boundaries with this work.”

Arndt Schoenemann, Managing Director, Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH commented: “Reaching this milestone and impressive performance is proof of the great co-operation of all parties involved and especially of the expertise that accumulates in our joint venture with Rolls-Royce. Together, we are writing aerospace history.”

As well as high power testing, the Power Gearbox is also undergoing Attitude Rig testing, which simulates the effect of the gearbox being on the wing of an aircraft in flight, through phases such as take-off, climb, banking and descent.

Rolls-Royce is working in partnership with Liebherr-Aerospace, through our Aerospace Transmission Technologies joint venture, to develop manufacturing capability and capacity for the new Power Gearbox. Rolls-Royce leads the design definition and design integration of the project, as well as testing activities.

sustainable aviation

Reducing Green House Gas emissions in air transport: Rolls-Royce sets new aerospace record with all new UltraFan® Power Gearbox

The UltraFan engine, available from 2025, will feature:

  • Maximum fuel burn efficiency and low emissions through a new engine core architecture
  • Reduced weight through the use of Carbon Titanium (CTi) in fan blades and a composite casing
  • Increased efficiency through the use of ceramic matric composites (CMCs) which are heat resistant and require less cooling air
  • Efficient power for high by-pass ratio engines of the future through a geared design

Source: Rolls-Royce

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CFM Leap Engine Surpassed 200,000 Flight Hours

News (EN)
IASA - Sustainable Aviation

CFM Leap Engine: 15 percent improvement in fuel consumption and emissions

West Chester, Ohio, August 2, 2017: CFM International’s advanced LEAP engine is setting new industry standards for fuel efficiency and asset utilization as the company celebrates the one-year anniversary of its entry into commercial service.

Since the first LEAP-powered commercial flight on August 2, 2016, more than 75 LEAP-powered aircraft have entered service with a total of 15 operators on four continents.  In addition to Pegasus, AirAsia, Air India, Avianca Brazil, Azul, Citilink, easyJet, Frontier, Interjet, Nova Airlines, SAS, SriLankan, Virgin America, Vistara, and WOW air have all taken delivery of at least one LEAP-powered airplane.  Overall, this fleet has logged more than 200,000 flight hours and 100,000 flight cycles.

“The LEAP engine entry into service is the most successful in our history and has been exceptional by any measure,” said Gaël Méheust, president and CEO of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE (USA) and Safran Aircraft Engines (France) and the world’s leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines.  “Our customers are thrilled with the fuel efficiency the engines is providing, as well as the world-class utilization level they are achieving with this very important asset.  Aircraft powered by the LEAP engine are flying more than 95 percent of available days.  This is simply unprecedented for a new engine.”

The LEAP is providing operators a 15 percent improvement in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to today’s best CFM engine, along with dramatic reductions in engine noise.  All this technology is focused on providing better utilization, including CFM’s legendary reliability out of the box; greater asset availability; enhanced time on wing margins to help keep maintenance costs low; and minimized maintenance actions, all supported by sophisticated analytics that enable CFM to provide tailored, predictive maintenance over the life of the product. For more information, please visit www.cfmaeroengines.com.

IASA - Sustainable Aviation

Air Lease Corporation has just finalized its order for additional CFM International LEAP-1B engine to power 12 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, including five 737 MAX 7 and seven MAX 8 aircraft. The engine order is valued at $348 million U.S. at list price and deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2022

Source: CFM International

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COMAC C919 Completes Successful Maiden Flight

News (EN)
International Association for Sustainable Aviation

Latest CFM engines for improved fuel efficiency

Shanghai, May 5, 2017: Today, the first C919 aircraft of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) completed a 79- minute first flight, marking the launch of the certification flight test program for the all new Chinese 150-passenger category aircraft. The new jet took-off from Shanghai’s busy Pudong International Airport. Seating up to 174 passengers in a high density configuration, the narrow-body jetliner has about the size of an Airbus A320 or a Boeing 737. Depending on the payload, the C919 aircraft offers a range up to 5,555 kilometers.

 

The independently in China developed single aisle commercial airliner is powered by CFM International’s advanced LEAP-1C integrated propulsion system. The LEAP-1C engine features some of the industry’s most advanced technologies, including 3-D woven carbon fiber composite fan blades and fan case; a unique debris rejection system; 4th generation three dimensional aerodynamic designs; the Twin-Annular, Pre-Swirl (TAPS) combustor featuring additively manufactured fuel nozzles; ceramics matrix composite shrouds in the high-pressure turbine; and titanium aluminide (Ti-Al) blades in the low-pressure turbine. According to CFMI, the engines performed flawlessly.

“This is a great day for all of us,” said He Dongfeng, president of COMAC. “We are very happy with the LEAP-1C engine and have been pleased to work with CFM on this program.  The engines performed beautifully during today’s flight and we believe they will bring our customers the levels of fuel efficiency and reliability they will require in their daily operations.”

For the development and the production of the C919, COMAC is using leading Western suppliers like Honeywell, Parker Aerospace, UTC Aerospace Systems and Arconic,. The landing gear systems is provided by Liebherr-Aerospace.

COMAC plans to use a total of six prototypes for its flight test program. First deliveries are presently scheduled for 2018. A total of 570 orders have been obtained from 23 customers. 

COMAC C919 taking-off from Pudong International Airport

Sources: COMAC, CFMI

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Embraer Rolls Out the E195-E2

sNews (EN)
sustainable aviation

New airliner will save up to 24% in fuel 

 
São José dos Campos, SP, March 7, 2017: In a ceremony held today at the Company’s facilities in São José dos Campos, Embraer presented the largest aircraft of the second generation of the E2-Jets family, the most efficient aircraft of its class in the single aisle jet market: the E195-E2. With the first flight scheduled for the coming months, the jet is expected to enter into service in the first half of 2019.
“The E195-E2 has the potential to significantly change the fleet profile of airlines around the world. With a 20% lower cost per trip and a cost per seat similar to larger aircraft, the E195-E2 becomes the ideal aircraft for regional business growth as well as low-cost business plans and complementing existing mainline fleets” said John Slattery, President & CEO, Embraer Commercial Aviation.
The E195-E2 has three additional rows of seats, when compared to the current generation E195, and it can be configured with 120 seats in two classes of service, or up to 146 in a single class. The aircraft also has a significant increase in range of 450 nautical miles, which allows trips of up to 2,450 nautical miles.
The aircraft has a dedicated wing, with the highest aspect ratio among single-aisle jets, increasing fuel efficiency. In addition to a more balanced specification, Embraer applied over 17 million hours of flight experience on today’s E-Jet fleet of over 1,300 units to come up with the optimal E2 design. For example, being designed with an intelligent combination of materials, the E195-E2 can carry 10% more passengers than a direct competitor and still have the same weight.
“We introduced in the proven E-Jets platform all new technologies that would add value to customers. One example is the fourth generation of fly-by-wire, which allowed a 20% reduction of the empennage area, minimizing drag and weight,” explained Luís Carlos Affonso, COO, Embraer Commercial Aviation. “The airplane will save up to 24% in fuel and 20% in maintenance costs per seat, when compared to the current E195. A portion of these savings will be achieved with the new engine technology, but the greatest competitive advantage of the E195-E2 lies in the optimization of its structure and of its various systems.”
 
Embraer will use two aircraft for the E195-E2 certification campaign. The first prototype will be used for the aerodynamic and performance tests. The second prototype, which will also make its inaugural flight by the end of this year, will be used for the validation of maintenance tasks and of the interior. 
Since its launch, the E2 program has reached 690 commitments, 275 of which are firm orders and 415 of which are options and purchase rights, from both airline customers and leasing companies. Currently, the E-Jets are operating with about 70 customers in 50 countries.
sustainable aviation
Source: Embraer
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A321neo powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines receives type certification

News (EN)
sustainable aviation

Toulouse,  March 1, 2017:  Following a comprehensive flight test program, the Airbus A321neo powered by CFM International’s LEAP-1A engines has been granted joint Type Certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The EASA Type Certificate was signed by EASA’s Certification Director Trevor Woods and Michael J. Kaszycki FAA’s acting Manager Transport Airplane Directorate – Aircraft Certification Service. Both certificates were handed over to Airbus  Senior Vice President  A320 Family Program, Klaus Roewe and Airbus A320 Family Program Chief Engineer, Pierre-Henri Brousse.
“The A321neo offers operators the perfect balance between fuel efficiency, comfort and environmental performance. It is the clear market leader in the 200 plus seat category,” said Fabrice Brégier, President of Airbus Commercial Aircraft.” Today’s certification is a rewarding tribute to all the teams who have been instrumental in achieving this essential milestone.”

A321neo

The A321neo powered by CFM engines, successfully completed a certification program accumulating over 400 flight hours in more than 160 flights. The tests validated the aircraft airframe and systems well beyond their design limits to meet all airworthiness criteria. The A321neo with CFM engines is the fourth member of the NEO Family certified over the last 15 months, giving customers of the A320neo Family the option of two engine types; Pratt & Whitney’s Pure Power PW1100G-JM and CFM’s LEAP-1A.
sustainable aviation

Source: Airbus

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GE Aviation GE9X: CMC – a Clear Cool Winner

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IASA: Nachhaltige Luftfahrt - Sustainable Aviation

Second phase of fuel-efficient Ceramic Matrix Composite component testing is complete

Evendale, OH, January 19, 2017: The second phase of GE9X CMC (Ceramic Matrix Composite) component testing in a GEnx demonstrator engine is complete, with the CMCs continuing to be the clear cool winner. The demonstrator engine accumulated 1,800 cycles in the latest round of tests, which included exposure to harsh environmental conditions of dust and debris. The level of debris exposure was equivalent to about 3,000 take-off and landing operation cycles. The GE9X engine will power Boeing’s 777X aircraft.

According to Ted Ingling, GE9X general manager at GE Aviation, “Dust and debris accumulate on the external surface of the airfoils and can degrade the insulation coatings. They can also collect on internal cooling circuits of the blades and nozzles and degrade the cooling effectiveness. Both factors can lead to durability issues. These demonstrator tests allow us to get an accelerated understanding of how our new designs and materials perform in all environments, including those prone to high airborne debris.”

For the second round of tests, the GEnx demonstrator engine utilized the same CMC combustor liners, HPT stage 1 shrouds and HPT stage 2 nozzles from the first round of tests in September 2015 along with the addition of the HPT stage 1 CMC nozzles.

“The majority of the CMC components experienced a total of nearly 4,600 cycles in the two testing phases in the GEnx demonstrator engine,” said Ingling. “All of the CMC components performed extremely well and continue to prove their value.”

The use of lightweight, heat-resistant CMCs in the hot section of jet engines is a significant breakthrough in the aviation industry. CMCs consist of silicon carbide ceramic fibers and ceramic matrix and are enhanced with proprietary coatings. With one-third the density of metal alloys, these ultra-lightweight CMCs reduce an engine’s weight, which improves fuel efficiency and durability.

CMCs are also more heat resistant than metal alloys, allowing the diversion of less cooling air into an engine’s hot section. By using this cooling air in the engine flow path, an engine runs more efficiently at higher temperature.

The GEnx CMC demonstrator engine also incorporated non-CMC GE9X parts, including the new 3D additive manufactured lightweight low-pressure turbine titanium aluminide (TiAl) blades produced at Avio Aero and the next-generation HPT stage 1 blades with advance cooling technology. The next-generation HPT blades utilize a proprietary process invented at GRC and industrialized at GE Aviation’s Cores & Castings facility in Dayton, OH. This novel process employs the most efficient cooling circuits ever produced, which result in significant fuel efficiency improvement over historical designs.

Certification testing on the GE9X program will begin in the first half of this year along with flight testing on GE Aviation’s flying test bed. Engine certification is expected in 2018.

With almost 700 GE9X engines on order, the GE9X engine will be in the 100,000 pound thrust class and will have the largest front fan at 134 inches in diameter with a composite fan case and 16 fourth generation carbon fiber composite fan blades. Other key features include; a next-generation 27:1 pressure-ratio 11-stage high-pressure compressor; a third-generation TAPS III combustor for high efficiency and low emissions; and CMC material in the combustor and turbine.

IHI Corporation, Safran Aircraft Engines, Safran Aero Boosters and MTU Aero Engines AG are participants in the GE9X engine program.

Source: GE Aviation

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Airbus: Price Adjustment 2017 Announced

News (EN)

Toulouse, January 11, 2017: Airbus has increased the average list prices of its aircraft by one percent across the product line, effective from January 1st 2017. This price increase has been calculated according to Airbus’ standard escalation formula over the January 2016 to January 2017 period and takes into account the materials and commodities prices.

John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer Customers, Airbus Commercial Aircraft said: “Our new 2017 pricing affirms the value of Airbus’ modern, comprehensive and fuel-efficient aircraft family.” He added: “The price increase also reflects our customers’ satisfaction with the winning combination of performance, operating economics and passenger experience.”

AIRBUS AIRCRAFT 

2017 AVERAGE LIST PRICES* (USD millions)

 

A318

 

75.9

A319

 

90.5

 

A320

 

99.0

A321

 

116.0

A319neo

 

99.5

A320neo

 

108.4

 

A321neo

 

127.0

A330-200

 

233.8

A330-800 (neo)

 

254.8

A330-200 Freighter

 

237.0

A330-300

 

259.0

A330-900 (neo)

 

290.6

A350-800

 

275.1

A350-900

 

311.2

A350-1000

 

359.3

A380

 

436.9

 

  

Quelle: Airbus

Qantas Set to Fly Non-stop Heathrow to Australia 

News (EN)

First regular passenger service to directly link Europe to Australia

December 12, 2016: Qantas is set to add to its list of aviation firsts, with the national carrier confirming it will operate non-stop flights from Heathrow to Perth using the fuel-efficient  Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

The 14,498-kilometre service will be the first regular passenger service to directly link Europe to Australia when it begins in March 2018.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the history-making flight would be a watershed for travel, tourism and trade. “When Qantas created the Kangaroo Route between London and Australia in 1947, it took four days and nine stops. Now it will take just 17 hours from Perth non-stop.

This is a game-changing route flown by a game-changing aircraft. Travelers from Europe have never had a direct link down under before, so the opportunities this opens for them to explore Australia are huge.”

Mr. Joyce said passenger comfort on the 17-hour flight was a key consideration. “When we designed the interior of our 787s, we wanted to make sure passengers would be comfortable on the extended missions the aircraft was capable of. That’s why we have features in our Economy seats that other airlines reserve for Premium Economy. And we’re redesigning our on-board service to help reduce jetlag.”

The enhanced Qantas cabin design is in addition to the comfort factors that Boeing built in to the Dreamliner – improved air quality, lower cabin noise and technology to reduce turbulence.  Mr. Joyce said the direct route is expected to appeal to European travelers who want a non-stop link to Australia and will see Australian travelers from across the country hub through Perth to London, boosting tourism in both directions.

Seats on the London-Perth flights will go on sale in April 2017 for the first services in March 2018. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners used on the route will carry 236 passengers across Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins.

Source: Heathrow Airport

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