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Price of petroleum, new environmental regulations: in the aviation industry, as well, the race for less greedy engines is on. Alternatives such as airships are in development.
Faced with its dependence on the price of petroleum and on new environmental concerns and regulations, the aviation industry has for a long time sought to reduce aeroplanes’ kerosene consumption. The competition is being played out notably in terms of
engine performance.
The alarm had been raised by the CEO of Air France-KLM before he left the sinking flagship: last year, Jean-Cyril Spinetta was already urging the manufacturers Airbus (EADS) and Boeing to develop more efficient engines – of the single-aisle type – such as that used by the A380.
Since then, the race for innovation in
less greedy engines has begun. Engine companies are developing devices that consume less fuel. The models due on the market in 2016 will rely upon structures integrating innovative technologies: counter-rotating blowers, lighter blowers, highly charged boosters, and highly charged and low blade count turbines.
Brought together inside CFM International, Safran – which has signed a
financing contract of €300m with the European Investment Bank (EIB) in accordance with the European Clean Transport Facility (ECTF) – and General Electric (GE) are currently developing the LEAP X (Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion) engine. This model will allow a reduction in kerosene consumption of 16%.
Eco-compatible alternatives are also in development in terms of
freight transport: the 250-ton, autonomous large airship project run by AAT First is a good example of this. The environmental impact of an autonomous large airship (emissions, noise) is much less than the majority of current means of transport. So, a kind of "back to the green future".
