Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008 - (Page 24)

GREEN, CLEAN, LEAN FA R N B O R O U G H 2 0 0 8 ‘Fuel Is a Structural Issue’ Green? Lean? This Is Nothing New, Says Goodrich Veteran Green is great but it’s nothing new, says Harry Arnold, who heads technology development at Goodrich. “Green seems to be the topic every the hour, doesn’t it? Anything green is good. The amazing thing to me is that this is not new in this industry.” From the days of the 707 and even the Comet, he says, up through the DC-8, DC-9, the 737 line and the Airbus A320 and 737NG, “Every airplane is greener using today’s terminology. Harry Arnold. “They are all quieter, they all burn significantly less fuel and less fuel per passenger, and they have more range,” Arnold says. “Using data from American Airlines, the 737 800 is 25% less costly to operate than an MD80. The industry has been searching and implementing change to reduce community noise, reduce emissions and reduce fuel burn since day one. The 737NG without winglets has 16% less drag than the 737 classic and it flies 10% faster. “My point is that the industry has been on this quest for a long, long time. We are continuing on the quest and maybe we shouldn’t lose sight of that.” “Fuel is a structural issue for commercial aviation,” said Dr. John Ferrie, president of GE Aviation Systems. “The price of oil is around $140 a barrel, and two differing schools of thought say it will either go up to $200 or drop back to less than $100. I think the sensible thing to do is plan for the price to remain high and take action accordingly. The airlines that plan for a high fuel cost environment are probably going to be the ones who will come through it best. Older, thirstier aircraft are being parked, and at the moment airframers’ order books continue to be strong with no sign of any real downturn. We are all watching with great interest.” Eaton’s U-Plex Seals Offer Savings Eaton’s U-Plex metallic pneumatic seal is an interchangeable alternative to a traditional E-seal that can seal when assembled flanges are distorted as much as 2.5 to five times more than a conventional E-seal can handle. The ability to maintain a seal can be related directly to fuel consumption savings and efficiency. Based on a simulated calculation of a Boeing 757 pneumatic system, seal leakages for U-Plex compared to traditional E-seals were three orders of magnitude less. That would translate to 28 pounds of fuel or $50 saved per hour/per aircraft. Taken across a typical year of service, that equates to $220,752 in annual fuel savings per aircraft, enhanced further by reduced pneumatic leakage that reduces engine temperatures, resulting in longer life of the engine components, claims Eaton, which is at Hall 3, Stand C5 here. Canada’s NRC, EADS Sign Technology Pact The National Research Council Canada (NRC) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with EADS to cooperate on aerospace research and technology development. The MoU builds on 20 years of research collaboration between NRC and EADS, which includes current projects involving Airbus and EADS Innovation Works. This MOU will allow NRC to begin collaborative work with other EADS business units such as Eurocopter and EADS’ Military Transport Aircraft Division. “Canadian researchers will collaborate on projects related to manufacturing and environmental technologies as well as aerodynamics and airborne tests that should help reduce fuel consumption and adverse environmental impacts,” said NRC vp of engineering, Dr. Sherif Barakat. Biofuels Explored at Pratt & Whitney Canada Pratt & Whitney Canada is exploring an ethanol-based fuel in conjunction with the National Research Council of Canada, according to PWC evp John Saabas. Tests are being carried out on a PT6 turboprop “to understand the impact on the engine,” he said. Testing is “not just on the mechanical parts, but on operability and the volume flows required,” he added. Separately, PWC will collaborate with Virgin Galactic to test some of Virgin’s fuels at high altitude in the PW308 engines that power the White Knight Two spaceplane mothership. Water-Based Paint and Decreased Fuel Burn Embraer has set itself some pretty tough targets to reduce carbon footprint at its factories, and is well on the way to meeting some of them. It is now spraying aircraft with “high solids” waterbased paints, rather than solvent-based products. It is also very aware of the pain the industry is going through with the high cost of fuel, and claims to have reduced fuel burn for all of its E-Jets, the ERJ145XR and its Legacy 600 business jet. Since service introduction it claims a 4% reduction for the E-170/175, 3% for the E-190/195 family, 2% for the ERJ145XR since blended winglets were fitted (an E-170 winglet is shown here), and a whopping 7% for the Legacy 600 through aerodynamic improvements. The company has also published fuel conservation procedure manuals for operators of ERJ145 and E-170/195 airliners that could save 12% fuel burn, it claims. 24 July 14, 2008 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008

Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008 Contents Thirty More Years CFM Reveals New Engine Boeing Reduces Forecast UAVs’ Quiet Revolution Finmeccanica: U.S. Success A Plethora of AESAs BAE North America Plus L-3 Becomes a Prime Better Late Than Never A Peek Behind the Curtain China’s J-10 Revealed Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner Breaking LM’s Hegemony

Farnborough Show News - July 14, 2008

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