(TAN): An Etihad Airways 787-10 Dreamliner fitted with special equipment that can enhance safety and reduce CO2 emissions and noise has started flight testing for Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator programme, in collaboration with NASA.
A series of flights will compile detailed information about aircraft acoustics from some 1,200 microphones attached to the outside of the 787 and positioned on the ground. The collaboration between NASA and Boeing will improve the agency’s aircraft noise prediction capabilities, advance ways for pilots to reduce noise and inform future quiet aircraft designs.
[ALSO READ: Hyatt Hotels offer extended stay packages]
“At NASA, we’ve been researching the individual airplane noise sources, their interactions with the airframe and how they combine to the total aircraft noise,” NASA technical lead Russell Thomas said. “This unique, carefully designed flight test provides the environment where all these effects are measured, which will be key to advancing our ability to design lower-noise aircraft.”
Etihad Aviation Group COO Mohammad Al Bulooki said: “Etihad participating in this year’s ecoDemonstrator programme builds on our core innovation and sustainability tenets while supporting the research and development of our partners to bring innovation from the laboratory to a real world testing environment.”
“Sustainability remains a priority for Etihad in spite of the current COVID-19 crisis…. As far as Etihad is concerned, environmental sustainability shouldn’t be an option or fair-weather project to be shelved when it’s not convenient against other challenges,” he said.
[ALSO READ: Ginger Hotels signs two new hotels in Chennai, one in Patna]
Most community complaints about aircraft noise stem from flights approaching airports, according to industry figures. About one-quarter of the noise is created by the landing gear. Another project will test landing gear modified to be quieter by Safran Landing Systems.
“Our collaboration with NASA and Safran is key to accelerating innovation and furthering the ecoDemonstrator’s mission to improve the sustainability of air travel,” ecoDemonstrator Program Chief Engineer Rae Lutters said.
As part of Boeing’s Confident Travel Initiative to address COVID-19, a handheld ultraviolet light wand will be tested to determine its effectiveness in disinfecting flight decks and cabins.
[ALSO READ: People are going on spontaneous, short trips, especially in US, says Airbnb data]
All scheduled test flights are being flown on a blend of up to 50% sustainable fuel, which includes the largest volumes of 50% blend biofuel commercially produced. Flight testing at Boeing’s facility in Glasgow, Mont., is expected to last about 10 days before the aircraft is delivered to Etihad in late September.
This is the first time the ecoDemonstrator programme is using a Boeing 787-10 since flight testing began in 2012.
