Boeing on Thursday said it plans to add a 787-10 “Explorer” to its ecoDemonstrator program this year while it moves ahead with its assessment of 19 technologies under study with the program’s 777-200ER. The first ecoDemonstrator Explorer will conduct flight tests in June from Seattle to Tokyo, Singapore, and Bangkok to demonstrate how coordinating navigation across global airspace jurisdictions can improve operational efficiency and reduce fuel use and emissions by up to 10 percent.
The plan calls for Boeing and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) in the U.S., Japan, Singapore, and Thailand to collectively sequence the airplane's routes to achieve the optimal flight path across multiple regions, taking account of conditions such as weather, air traffic, and airspace closures. The airplane will fly on the highest available blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at each location.
“The industry will need continued fleet renewal, efficiency gains, renewable energy carriers such as sustainable aviation fuel and advanced technology to meet the civil aviation industry's commitment to achieving net zero carbon emission by 2050,” said Boeing chief sustainability officer Chris Raymond. “Our initial Explorer testing in partnership with aviation stakeholders in four countries is a great example of how we can work together to optimize operational efficiency and reduce emissions.”
Meanwhile, Boeing's 777-200ER ecoDemonstrator airplane will continue testing various technologies this year. Testing items include sustainable cargo hold wall panels made of 40 percent recycled carbon fiber and 60 percent resin made from bio-based feedstock. It also plans to test a fiber-optic fuel quantity sensor compatible with 100 percent SAF and an electronic flight bag application featuring a component of Jeppesen’s FliteDeck called Pro Smart Airport Maps, which supports safe taxi operations with the depiction of contextual airport data. Boeing added that the airplane will fly on the highest available blend of SAF locally on all flights.
Including its 2023 plan, the ecoDemonstrator program will have tested some 250 technologies aimed at decarbonization, efficiency improvements, safety enhancements, and cabin upgrades. Boeing has applied some one-third of the tested technologies in its products and services since the ecoDemonstrator’s inception in 2012.