Lufthansa Technik tests 70 next-generation AeroShark films on A319

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Lufthansa Technik has begun flight trials of an upgraded version of the fuel-saving aircraft coating AeroShark on an Airbus A319 operated by Lufthansa City Airlines.

AeroShark is a transparent film with microscopic grooves (riblets) aligned with the airflow to reduce aerodynamic drag. Initial applications of the material have achieved fuel savings of around 1 percent, with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions.

Previous AeroShark films were used only on the fuselage and engine nacelles. The updated material being tested is stronger to withstand the higher aerodynamic loads on the wings and tail.

The trials will evaluate multiple AeroShark material samples that differ in material composition and layer structure. The goal is to find the optimal overall solution balancing durability, ease of application, ease of cleaning, and residue-free removability.

Lufthansa Technik, together with development partner Surventis (formerly BASF Coatings), plans to test approximately 70 transparent film patches measuring 20 cm × 20 cm (8 in × 8 in) on the A319 by February 2027.

The patches are installed in selected areas on the fuselage sides as well as on the inside and outside of the engine cowlings. Over the coming months, these patches will be analyzed for performance during scheduled flights between Munich and Hamburg, with the results informing further development of AeroShark technology. Lufthansa Technik will also conduct periodic material inspections during scheduled ground maintenance of the aircraft in Hamburg.

For passengers on the Lufthansa City Airlines A319, the material is nearly invisible, as it is transparent and barely perceptible to the naked eye; flight operations remain unaffected. To inform travelers about the trial, a welcome panel featuring AeroShark design has been installed at the aircraft entrance.

As of July this year, 22 aircraft in the Lufthansa Group have been fitted with AeroShark, including 12 Boeing 777-300ERs at Swiss, 5 777Fs at Lufthansa Cargo, 4 777-200ERs at Austrian Airlines, and 1 Lufthansa 747-400. According to Lufthansa Technik, this fleet saves 19 tons of fuel and reduces CO2 emissions by 60 tons per day.

According to Lufthansa Technik, AeroShark has attracted industry-wide attention, with airlines outside the Lufthansa Group also adopting the film on their long-haul aircraft to improve fuel efficiency.