Boeing is expanding its ecoDemonstrator flight-test programme to expedite innovation in sustainability and safety. The company announced today its plan to evaluate 19 technologies on the Boeing 777 ecoDemonstrator in 2023, adding “Explorer” aircraft to conduct experiments on specific technologies.
In June, a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner that will serve as the first ecoDemonstrator Explorer will fly from Seattle to Bangkok via Tokyo, Singapore, to demonstrate how coordinating navigation across global airspace authorities may increase operational efficiency and result in a 10% decrease in fuel consumption and emissions. Using current onboard capabilities, Boeing and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) in the United States, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand will sequence the aircraft’s routes to achieve the optimal route across multiple regions, considering conditions such as weather, air traffic, and airspace closures. The aeroplane will use the highest balance of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) available at each location.
President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Aeroplanes, Stan Deal, stated that Boeing is expanding its ecoDemonstrator programme with Explorer aircraft to test even more sustainability-focused technologies to support the industry’s aim of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050. He stated that Boeing continues to invest in innovation that reduces fuel consumption, emissions, and pollution on the company’s products and to collaborate with governments and industry to advance sustainability throughout all phases of flight.
Boeing’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Chris Raymond, said that for the industry to meet its goal of having net zero carbon emissions by 2050, it will need to keep updating its fleet, improve its efficiency, and use green energy carriers like sustainable aviation fuel and use new technology. Adding that Boeing’s initial Explorer testing with stakeholders in four countries is an excellent example of how the company can work together to improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions, he said that the testing is a great example of how the company can improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions.
Boeing will test 19 technologies on its current premier ecoDemonstrator aircraft, a 777-200ER (Extended Range), in 2023.
One of these technologies consists of cargo compartment wall panels comprised of 40% recycled carbon fibre and 60% bio-based resin.
A fibre optic fuel level sensor compatible with one hundred per cent SAF
Another technology undergoing testing is an application for Electronic Flight Bags that includes Smart Airport Maps, a component of Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro that reduces operational costs and supports safe transportation operations by displaying contextual airport data.
The aircraft will utilise the highest blend of SAF available locally for all flight experiments, and the aircraft will use the highest blend of SAF available locally during the test.
Since its maiden voyage in 2012, the Boeing ecoDemonstrator programme has accelerated innovation by testing new technologies in the real world. The programme will have tested approximately 250 technologies to help decarbonise aviation, improve operational efficiency, and enhance safety and the passenger experience by 2023. A third of the demonstrated technologies have been incorporated into Boeing’s products and services.
