A Discover Airlines Airbus A330 (D-AIKP) has become the worldโs first Airbus to enter regular scheduled service following a large-scale AeroSHARK modification. This marks a new milestone for the surface technology developed by Lufthansa Technik and Surventis. The long-haul aircraft, registered as D-AIKP, completed its inaugural flight to Florida last Thursday.
AeroSHARK is a special transparent surface film with a fine grooved structure modeled on sharkskin. Applied to the aircraftโs fuselage and engine nacelles, it reduces aerodynamic drag in flight. This can lower fuel consumption and COโ emissions by around one percent.
The A330 was equipped with AeroSHARK at Dresden Airport in late August. The aircraft then completed a series of extensive test flights. Analysis of the data collected during those flights confirmed that the technology can be used safely and reliably in flight operations.
More airline news: