Fact Sheet: Technology Roadmap for Environmental Improvement
- The IATA Technology Roadmap gives an overview of current and future technologies that can reduce the carbon footprint of aviation.
- It analyses the potential carbon reduction benefits of new technologies for airframes, engines and air traffic management as well as alternative fuels.
- The Roadmap considers short-term solutions such as retrofits as well as longer-term developments that can only be implemented in new aircraft designs.
- It identifies approximately 30% improvement in fuel efficiency per aircraft by 2020
Results of the study show the following carbon savings per plane
| Timelines and examples of technologies |
Total Impact |
| Retrofits |
7 to 13% |
- Winglets mounted on the wingtips of aircraft reduce fuel burn with improved aerodynamics
- Engine components replaced by more advanced ones for better combustion and airflow
- Cabin retrofits with lighter materials for furnishing and less energy-consuming lighting and in-flight entertainment
|
|
| Production Updates |
7 to 18% |
- More airframe structure components made of lightweight composite material instead of aluminium
- Advanced engines for current aircraft production series
|
|
| New aircraft design before 2020 |
25 to 35% |
- Geared turbofan engine will reduce fuel burn by 10 to 15%
- Open rotor engine will reduce fuel burn around 25%
- Counter-rotating fan will reduce fuel burn 10 to 15%
- Advanced turbofan will reduce fuel burn around 15%
- Laminar flow reduces aerodynamic drag by reducing turbulence on aircraft surface, 10 to 15% less fuel burn
|
|
| New aircraft design after 2020 |
25 to 50% |
- Blended wing body, rather than classical tube & wing architecture
- Revolutionary engine architectures
- Fuel cell system for on-board energy
|
|
Industry Involvement
Over 20 partners contributed to the roadmap
- Airframe manufacturers: Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer
- Engine manufacturers: General Electric, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls Royce, Safran
- System suppliers: Hamilton, Honeywell, Rockwell-Collins, Thales
- Fuel Industry: BP, Chevron, Shell, Total
- Research Institutes: Georgia Institute of Technology, German Aerospace
Centre (DLR), Bauhaus Luftfahrt
Updated November 2009