Page 42 - World Airnews Magazine November 2020

ENGINES

THE FUTURE AT OUR

FINGERTIPS

LEADING THE WAY

s the industry moves toward
Aemission-free aviati on, MTU Aero
Engines has welcomed the ZEROe concepts FOR BUSINESS AVIATION
from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus.

“Hydrogen is a highly attractive future

option for us as an engine producer as well.
It should be used as a fuel right away” said

MTU chief operating officer Lars Wagner.

MTU Aero has offered three possible uses
for hydrogen: converted to sustainable avia-

tion fuels (SAFs), hydrogen could be dropped
into existing aircraft and engines right away. nology promises almost zero emissions, but

“Direct combustion of liquid hydrogen more than 15 percent regardless of fuel type,

in gas turbines is possible in technical it is still in the early stages of development considerably lowers all emissions - especially
in aircraft propulsion applications.

terms, too,” said Dr Stefan Weber, senior NOx levels - and according to initial estimates,

vice president technology and engineering “We call our fuel cell concept the flying also reduces formation of contrails.
advanced programmes at MTU in Munich, fuel cell. We have an established team of ex- Lars Wagner said, “We need both

highlighting the second possible use. That perts working on it in Munich,” Weber said. propulsion concepts - an optimised gas

would require some adjustments in the In August, MTU teamed up with the turbine combined with WET technology

engine, especially the combustion chamber, German Aerospace Centre (DLR) to launch a and fuel cells - because they have different

which Weber thinks could be done in just co-operative project with the aim of demon- areas of application.”

a few years. By contrast, much larger chal- strating the new technology in a Do228. The hydrogen-powered fuel cell is espe-

lenges await for infrastructure and aircraft MTU’s development work is also focusing cially suitable for short- to medium-haul

manufacturers, since they will have to find on the further development of the gas aircraft, as it requires less tank volume than

ways to provide and transport the liquid turbine to leverage the full amount of in the case of long-haul aircraft. For these

hydrogen and then carry it along inside potential available. types of planes, gas turbines will continue

appropriate tanks inside the aircraft. Further optimized and combined with rev- to make sense for the foreseeable future.

In the long term, MTU is relying on a third olutionary drive concepts that significantly “But in that case, using SAFs,” Dr Stefan

option for using hydrogen: converting it improve the cycle, considerable reductions Weber said, “Realising the new technolo-
into electricity by means of a fuel cell. in all emissions can be achieved. MTU is cur- gies and reaching our climate targets, will

This application is also described by the rently focusing on what is known as a WET depend to a crucial degree on receiving

MTU experts in their technology roadmap engine (Water-Enhanced Turbofan). appropriate funding, both nationally and at

for achieving emissions-free flight. This tech- This concept reduces fuel consumption by the European level.” Q
AIRCRAFT
EGYPTAIR RECEIVES LAST A220-300

The last aircraft arrived at Cairo inter- liner, which will be added to the six units
national airport recently from Toulouse it already operates. The long-term oper-

gyptAir received its last Airbus Blagnac in France. Like the previous ating lease signed with AerCap in Novem-

EA220-300, commissioned in 2017. eleven, the aircraft registered SU-GFI is ber 2019, at the Dubai show provides for

Its fleet now comprises 81 aircraft with configured in a single class of 140 seats. the delivery of the first aircraft in 2021,

an average age of 7.5 years. Its backlog It entered the fleet of the Egyptian and the second in 2022.

includes seven A321neo and two 787-9. national carrier just six days after the The final objective of all these ac-

By 2027, it aims for a fleet of 100 previous one ( SU-GFG). Apart from the quisitions is the renewal of 50% of the

planes less than five years old. A220-300s, Airbus also delivered all of group's fleet, and /or the crossing of the

Airbus has fulfilled the entire order for EgyptAir's eight A320neos. hundred aircraft mark by 2027.

twelve A220-300s signed between Egypt- The carrier received the last one on July It is also a question of passing the av-

Air and Bombardier Aerospace in 2017, on 29. There are now all seven A321neos that erage age of the fleet of the company to BOOK NOW

the side lines of the Dubai Airshow, before complete this order for 15 aircraft. less than five years. Currently, EgyptAir

the takeover of the production of this The Egyptian flag carrier is also expect- has a total of 81 aircraft with an average

model by the European manufacturer. ing two additional Boeing 787-9 Dream- age of 7.5 years. Q
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