Lufthansa Group seeks A330 certification for drag-reducing AeroShark coating

Lufthansa Group is seeking certification for AeroShark, its drag-reducing surface film, on the Airbus A330. The group said this week that the coating will be applied to an A330-300 flown by its subsidiary Discover Airlines. Testing will run over several weeks, before and after the film goes on. Installation is to take place at Lufthansa Technik's site in Dresden.

AeroShark carries microscopic grooves that imitate shark skin. The film is intended to cut drag on an aircraft's exterior, lowering fuel burn and carbon emissions. At present it is fitted only to fuselages and engine cowlings. Lufthansa Technik developed the technology with Surventis, and Mastercard is partnering on the certification effort.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has already cleared the group to use AeroShark on the Boeing 777-300ER, 777-200ER and 777F. The current process covers the A330-200 and A330-300.

Grazia Vittadini, chief technology officer at Lufthansa Group, called the coating an example of in-house innovation contributing to efficiency and lower emissions. She said the planned A330ceo certification would open up the potential of another significant slice of the world's long-haul fleet.

As of July, the group had 22 long-haul aircraft in service with the film.