Lufthansa Technik is moving closer to bringing its drag-reducing AeroSHARK “shark skin” technology to Airbus A330 aircraft, with a Discover Airlines A330-200 set to become the first Airbus jet worldwide to undergo installation and flight testing.
The company entered the final phase of the Supplemental Type Certification (STC) process for the A330-200 and A330-300 at the end of August. The Discover Airlines aircraft will be modified at Elbe Flugzeugwerke in Dresden and undergo several weeks of test flights before and after the installation.
Developed by Lufthansa Technik and Surventis, formerly BASF Coatings, AeroSHARK uses a riblet-textured surface film modeled on shark skin. The technology is designed to reduce aerodynamic drag, cutting fuel consumption and associated CO₂ emissions.
AeroSHARK is currently certified for commercial use on the Boeing 777F, 777-300ER and 777-200ER. The A330 certification programme expands the technology to one of the world’s most widely delivered long-haul aircraft types, many of which are expected to remain in service for years.
Lufthansa Technik is conducting the A330 certification programme with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). It includes technical documentation, ground and flight testing, followed by in-service validation.
If approved, the certification would pave the way for AeroSHARK to be deployed more widely across the global A330 fleet.
