Lufthansa Technik to Certify AeroSHARK Drag-Reduction Film for Airbus A330

Lufthansa Technik will also obtain certification for its AeroSHARK drag-reduction film for Airbus A330 aircraft.

The company has entered the final stage of obtaining a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the Airbus A330-200 and Airbus A330-300. A Discover Airlines A330-300 will be used for testing. The modification will be carried out at Elbe Flugzeugwerke in Dresden, followed by several weeks of test flights before and after the modification. This will be the first installation of the technology on an Airbus aircraft.

AeroSHARK is a technology developed by Lufthansa Technik and Surventis (formerly BASF Coatings), inspired by the structure of shark skin. Its surface features groove-like structures, known as riblets, approximately 50 micrometers high and aligned with the airflow. Applied to the aircraft fuselage and engine nacelles, the film reduces drag during flight. It cuts fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1%. Work is also underway to extend next-generation AeroSHARK materials to other aircraft surfaces, including wings and tailplanes. If realized, the reduction effect could potentially double.

It is the only riblet technology certified for commercial aircraft and is currently certified for the Boeing 777F, Boeing 777-300ER, and Boeing 777-200ER. The certification process is being carried out with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and includes the submission of technical documentation, ground and flight testing, and final validation in operational service.

The project is part of a strategic partnership with the Lufthansa Group and is supported by Mastercard. The partners will jointly advance technological innovation aimed at making aviation more efficient and sustainable.

As of August, Lufthansa Group companies had installed AeroSHARK on 22 aircraft. These aircraft are reducing fuel consumption by around 19 tonnes per day and carbon dioxide emissions by around 60 tonnes per day.