Fly like migratory birds
Airbus, two customers and three air navigation service providers plan to demonstrate the operational feasibility of a demonstrator project for reducing aviation emissions.
"fello’fly", inspired by biomimicry, replicates the behaviour of birds, which fly together to reduce their energy consumption. The technique of a follower aircraft retrieving energy lost by a leader, by flying in the smooth updraft of air the wake creates, reduces fuel consumption in the range of 5-10% per trip.
Airbus, Frenchbee, SAS, France’s DSNA, the UK’s NATS and Eurocontrol will develop a safe and realistic concept of operations necessary to shape future operational regulations for fello’flights. Tests will take place this year using two A350, with the involvement of the partners as early as 2021 in an oceanic airspace. (ah)