Airbus is teaming up with two airline customers, Frenchbee and SAS Scandinavian Airlines, as well as air traffic control services in France (DSNA) and the UK (NATS), as well as Eurocontrol, to demonstrate the operational feasibility of the Airbus demonstrator project, fello’fly, for reducing aviation emissions.
Inspired by biomimicry, fello’fly is based on Wake Energy Retrieval (WER) to reduce aviation emissions. WER replicates the behaviour of birds, which fly together to reduce their energy consumption.
The technique of a follower aircraft retrieving energy lost by a leader, by flying in the smooth updraft of air the wake creates, reduces fuel consumption in the range of 5-10% per trip.
Frenchbee and SAS will provide airline expertise in flight planning and operations. DSNA, NATS and Eurocontrol will contribute air navigation expertise defining how two aircraft can be brought safely together.
In parallel Airbus will continue working on the technical solution to assist pilots in ensuring that aircraft remain safely positioned.
Flight testing will take place throughout 2020 using two Airbus A350 aircraft, with the involvement of the airlines and ANSPs as early as 2021 in an oceanic airspace.
Talking about followers ????: we are teaming up with @flyfrenchbee @SAS @DGAC #DSNA @NATS and @eurocontrol, to show how our #fellofly demonstrator can fly 2 aircraft safely together, reducing fuel burn to contribute to the industry’s #sustainability goals. https://t.co/YlucUOTGTH pic.twitter.com/YOdMqIzbEe
— Airbus (@Airbus) September 9, 2020
