Tools for cleaner aircraft
The EU-funded 'Final assembly line assembly jigs and fixtures for flight test demonstrator' (JIF4FLIGHT) project is contributing to Europe's Clean Sky initiative. The air transport industry is paying a lot of attention to growing public concern about the environmental issues of air pollution, noise and climate change. Clean Sky was launched as a result, a public–private partnership between the European Commission and the aeronautical industry set up to lessen the environmental impact of aviation. As part of this effort, Airbus is involved in the Smart Fixed Wing Aircraft (SFWA) programme to demonstrate innovative wing and engine technologies expected to deliver major environmental benefits. These include 25–35 % less fuel burn, 25–35 % lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and 5–7 decibels less noise. Partners in the JIF4FLIGHT project are contributing to this aim by designing, manufacturing and delivering the jigs and fixtures for the SFWA's BLADE project, which will test a laminar-flow wing under flight conditions on an A340 aircraft. Tools to be delivered by the partners will be used to demount the existing outer wings from an A340 and replace them with new laminar-flow wings for testing. In the preliminary design phase, the partners produced concepts and designs for the complex tooling needed, which have been accepted by Airbus. As the BLADE project progresses, these designs are being adapted to new requirements, leading to an extension of the project. Project outcomes will include confirming that a specific wing profile can sustain laminar flow with acceptable stability. Eventual implementation of this technology in commercial aircraft will lead to more efficient and cleaner air transport for the future.
