SESAR partners are joining forces to test wake energy recovery (WER) in order to optimise fuel use and reduce CO2 emission. Gain Environmental Efficiency by Saving Energy (GEESE) is a new SESAR industrial research project funded within the framework of the Digital European Sky, which will map out how to enable WER operations for transatlantic and continental flights.

Migratory birds such as geese often fly in formation to save energy by taking advantage of the changed airflow in each bird's wake. Like a bird, a moving airplane leaves a wake of disturbed air, creating an updraft that allows the following aircraft to cut down on engine thrust, fuel use and emissions.

Led by Airbus, the EUR 10 million project funded by Horizon Europe and industry will bring together a range of stakeholders, including Eurocontrol, DSNA, Air France, On, Indra, ENAC, DLR, AirNav, Bulatsa, CIRA, UAB, Frequentis, Boeing, French Bee, NATS, Virgin and Delta Airlines, to investigate how to introduce WER into air traffic operations.

Specifically, the project will elaborate an initial concept of operations (CONOPS) to enable Europe to North Atlantic WER operations, analysing safety aspects and the impact on legacy systems. The project will also provide operational solutions for the extension of WER operations within European domestic airspace. As an enabler to operations, the project will investigate non-CO2 potential benefits of formations, in addition to better known CO2 benefits.

WER sees a pair of aircraft flying in formation, one around 1.5nm (3km) behind the other, allowing the trailing jet to benefit from the lift generated by the preceding aircraft’s vortices, reducing the thrust required from its engines. The initial modelling suggests airlines could save between five and ten per cent of fuel per trip.  

The project will make use of a fast- and real-time simulation platform, feeding it with operational data, in order to mimic live operations and prepare for a series of dry run test flights. Airline partners will work together to update their flight plans to find suitable aircraft to pair, taking into account routing and other considerations. 

Critical to its success is that both Boeing and Airbus have joined forces on the project, thereby ensuring that the concept of operations is aligned across manufacturers and interoperability can be achieved for different aircraft types. Equally critical is the participation of air navigation service providers, such as DSNA, Bulatsa and NATS, given the importance of making WER operational feasible from an air traffic control perspective.   In addition to the fuel-saving – and CO2 emissions reduction – the benefits of the WER it could also have a positive impact on contrail formation. This will be assessed by project partner DLR at its aerospace research institute. 

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