Design

Minimising environmental impact at source is paramount as design exerts a major influence on each dimension of aircraft environmental performance. Environment is, therefore, part of top-level requirements for the design of any new product.

One major strand of the company’s research & technology efforts is to investigate, test, validate and optimise the most advanced technologies, design features, configurations and architectures.

This will lead to aircraft generating fewer emissions and less noise, while carrying a maximum payload over the mission range.

Working with suppliers to reduce engine emissions is a priority for Airbus.

In addition to optimised propulsion systems and overall aerodynamic efficiency, the continuous and progressive introduction of advanced materials and new processes reduce the basic weight of an aircraft to minimise fuel consumption and corresponding engine emissions.
The A380 is the first commercial aircraft to incorporate as much as 25 per cent composites. The carbon-fibre reinforced plastic composite centre wing box has saved up to 1.5 tonnes. As a result, with less than 3 litres per passenger per 100 kilometres, the A380 has a very low fuel burn.

Reducing noise is equally important. The company is working on low-noise nacelle designs, acoustic treatments and low engine noise technologies, hand-in-hand with engine manufacturers. One such innovation is the zero-splice inlet technology for engine nacelles, to reduce fan noise. It also contributes to the remarkably quiet flight of the A380, which has delivers unprecedented certified noise levels with a 17-EPNdB cumulative margin to the most stringent ICAO Chapter 4 standard, and satisfies the noise requirements of international airports – including the stringent requirements of London airports - QC/2 for departures and QC/0.5 for arrivals.

Airbus has also taken on board the ambitious 2020 ACARE (the Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe) vision that includes an overall 50 per cent reduction in noise, fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions and 80 per cent reduction in NOx emissions. The Joint Technology Initiative “Clean Sky” is an industry-driven technological research programme which will improve the environmental performance of air transport, enabling step changes in the reduction of fuel consumption, emissions and noise for future aircraft. Clean Sky constitutes a significant step towards the ACARE research goals.