Lufthansa says ‘shark skin’ to be certified for the Airbus A330

The AeroSHARK ‘shark skin’ is coming to Airbus aircraft. An A330 from Discover Airlines will be the first Airbus aircraft worldwide to be equipped with the innovative technology. Initially for flight testing — Lufthansa Technik entered the final phase of supplemental type certification for its drag-reducing surface film on the Airbus A330-200 and -300 at the end of August. Before and after the modification at Elbe Flugzeugwerke in Dresden, the long-haul jet from Discover Airlines undergoes test flights over several weeks. Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer Lufthansa Group, says: “AeroSHARK is an excellent example of how innovations from the Lufthansa Group can make concrete contributions to greater efficiency and lower emissions. With the planned certification for the Airbus A330ceo, we are tapping into the potential of another significant portion of the global long-haul fleets. The innovation alliance between Lufthansa Technik, Discover Airlines, and Mastercard demonstrates once again how strong partners can drive progress together.” The AeroSHARK technology, developed by Lufthansa Technik and Surventis (formerly BASF Coatings), is based on the structure of shark skin. The special surface film, modeled after nature, reduces drag during flight, lowering fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. AeroSHARK is the only so-called riblet technology on the market approved for commercial aviation—currently certified for the Boeing 777F, the B777-300ER, and the B777-200ER. Following its certification for the Boeing 777, the certification process is now focused on the Airbus A330 — the world’s second-most-delivered long-haul aircraft model, which will continue to shape existing fleets for many years to come. For the Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for AeroSHARK on the A330-300 and -200, Lufthansa Technik is undergoing the relevant process with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. This includes extensive technical documentation, ground and flight tests, as well as final in-service validation during flight operations. In addition to the certification currently being sought for the A330ceo, Lufthansa Technik and Surventis are also working to expand the next generation of AeroSHARK material to additional aircraft surfaces—such as wings and tail surfaces. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]