Lufthansa Cargo now operates world’s first AeroSHARK modified freighter

As a result of new technology developed by Lufthansa Technic and BASF, Lufthansa Cargo is now operating a Boeing 777F with AeroSHARK technology which will reduce its fuel consumption by one percent. The technology was first used on a SWISS 777-300ER and this is the first instance of the new technology’s use on a freighter aircraft.

The AeroSHARK modification was performed in mid-January as part of a scheduled maintenance layover for the freighter and was completed well within the time frame. The aircraft has now returned to active service and set off on its premiere flight from Frankfurt to Bangalore in India, before flying on to Chengdu in China.

AeroSHARK is a surface film that mimics the microscopic structure of shark skin. It consists of ribs around 50 micrometres in size – the so-called riblets. If the airflow on the fuselage and engine nacelles of the Boeing 777F is optimised in this way, significant fuel savings can be achieved. For Lufthansa Cargo’s aircraft, Lufthansa Technik estimates fuel savings of about one percent. Extrapolated to Lufthansa Cargo’s entire 777 fleet, this will result in annual savings of more than 4,000 metric tons of kerosene and nearly 13,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions.

Over time, the AeroSHARK modification will be incorporated within the entire Lufthansa Cargo 777 freighter fleet which will make these eleven aircraft more fuel-efficient and produce lower emissions. SWISS is also having its twelve Boeing 777-300ERs modified with AeroSHARK.  

Last December, Lufthansa Technik obtained a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for two types of Boeing 777, paving the way for the serial application of AeroSHARK to the 777 fleets of the launch customers.