Lufthansa Technik (LHT) has launched flight trials of the next-generation of its AeroSHARK drag-reducing technology on a Lufthansa City Airlines Airbus A319, the first aircraft to test the new material in commercial service.
Developed with partner Surventis (formerly BASF Coatings), the programme involves around 70 transparent film patches, each measuring 20 × 20 cm, applied to selected areas of the fuselage and the inside and outside of the engine cowlings. The material will be evaluated during regular flights between Munich and Hamburg through February 2027.
The tests are designed to assess the durability, application, cleaning and removal of different material and layer combinations under real operating conditions. Lufthansa Technik will inspect the samples during scheduled ground time in Hamburg.
AeroSHARK is already certified for use on the fuselage and engine cowlings of long-haul aircraft, where it reduces aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption. The latest research aims to develop a more advanced version that could also be applied to wings and horizontal and vertical stabilisers, which are subject to higher aerodynamic loads.
The programme is intended to support the wider deployment of AeroSHARK technology, enabling further fuel savings and emissions reductions while improving the sustainability of airline operations.
