The Lufthansa Group said AeroSHARK's “shark skin” is coming to Airbus aircraft: An A330 from Discover Airlines will be the first Airbus aircraft worldwide to be equipped with the technology.
AeroSHARK is a functional surface film with microscopically fine grooved structures modeled after shark skin, which reduces frictional drag and improves flow characteristics in water. AeroSHARK applies this effect to aviation. The surface film features riblets only about 50 micrometers high, precisely aligned with the airflow. It is applied to an aircraft’s fuselage and engine cowlings, reducing drag during flight. The technology cuts fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions on every flight—currently by about 1 percent.
“AeroSHARK is an excellent example of how innovations from the Lufthansa Group can make concrete contributions to greater efficiency and lower emissions. With the planned certification for the Airbus A330ceo, we are tapping into the potential of another significant portion of the global long-haul fleets," said Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer at Lufthansa Group, in a statement.
Lufthansa
AeroSHARK is the only so-called riblet technology on the market approved for commercial aviation - currently certified for the Boeing 777F, the B777-300ER, and the B777-200ER. Following its certification for the Boeing 777, the certification process is now focused on the Airbus A330 - the world’s second-most-delivered long-haul aircraft model.
For the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for AeroSHARK on the A330-300 and -200, Lufthansa Technik is undergoing the relevant process with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. This includes extensive technical documentation, ground and flight tests, as well as final in-service validation during flight operations.
