Lufthansa Technik is bringing its sharkskin-inspired AeroSHARK surface technology to Airbus aircraft for the very first time.
The MRO giant, which has already installed AeroSHARK on 29 Boeing aircraft, reveals that certification work for AeroSHARK on the Airbus A330ceo family has begun. It expects to receive a supplemental type certificate (STC) for AeroSHARK on the aircraft type in 2026.
“Our choice of the A330ceo as the next candidate for AeroSHARK certification is strategic, given the aircraft type’s widespread use and significant impact on global fuel consumption and emissions,” explains the firm.
“With about 1,000 A330-200 and -300 aircraft in service worldwide, the potential for operational cost savings and environmental benefits is substantial.”
Jointly developed by Lufthansa Technik and BASF Coatings, AeroSHARK is an adhesive film that is modeled on the drag-reducing structure of sharkskin. It is billed as saving a full one percent of fuel burn per aircraft. As such, it is having a measurable impact on airlines’ sustainability work.
AeroSHARK is transparent and almost invisible once applied. Image: Lufthansa Technik/Oliver Roesler
Indeed, AeroSHARK has already saved more than 13,000 tons of jet fuel and reduced CO₂ emissions by over 42,000 tons, according to Lufthansa Technik, which counts EVA Air, LATAM and Lufthansa Group carriers as customers.
Thus far, AeroSHARK has been installed on Boeing 747, 777-200ER, 777-300ER and 777F widebodies.
“SWISS has already modified their entire 12-aircraft 777 fleet so this is really adding up,” a Lufthansa Technik spokesperson told Runway Girl Network at this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX) in Hamburg in reference to the reduction in CO₂ emissions.
AeroSHARK can be applied to roughly 40% of an aircraft’s surface, but Lufthansa Technik is working on getting certified to cover a larger footprint.
“We are going bottom up to ever larger configurations,” revealed the spokesperson at AIX.
Related Articles:
- Austrian AeroSHARK highlights fuel efficiency gain for older jets
- Airbus hones hydrogen plan, showcases next-gen narrowbody tech
- EVA Air adopts fuel-saving AeroSHARK film for Boeing 777F fleet
- SWISS completes 777 mods with AeroSHARK, looks to equip other types
Featured image credited to Jason Rabinowitz
