Airbus Helicopters
In its efforts to find alternatives to fossil- fueled rotorcraft, “Airbus Helicopters’ long-term innovation
roadmap
involves exploring all options, brick by brick, and making incremental improvements towards zero emissions,” Cossetti said.
One way of doing this is through a combination of improved aerodynamics and weight reduction, which he said can bring
a reduction of CO2 emissions of 10% to 15%.
A second method involves turbine improvements and
next-generation
thermodynamic cycles, which Airbus believes
could reduce CO2 emissions between 10% and 25%. For instance, the company has been able to reduce its H160 fuel burn by 15%, thanks to
its Arrano turboshaft
powerplant made by Safran
Helicopter Engines.
Mobility - s NextGen
“The eco mode in our helicopters (using one or two engines depending on the flight phase) could bring a CO2
reduction up
to 15%,” said Cossetti. “The Racer demonstrator will shortly test this new feature in flight, with potential applications to other twin-engine platforms.”
Airbus Helicopters is also exploring “hybridization,” using a turbine engine and an electric motor together to reduce fuel burns in flight.
rotorcraftpro.com 67
efforts, Airbus Helicopters is developing a fully electric-powered vehicle, the CityAirbus NextGen, that will be able to cover short distances with three passengers and pilot on board. The company expects its first flight in 2023, with the goal of being certified for flight two years later.
“The first hybridization solution has already been tested in flight on our FlightLab H130 helicopter in 2021,” Cossetti said. “The results are promising, and pave the way to more powerful hybrid propulsion systems, already under assessment. All these improvements together, some of them already on the market, can drive up to 50% fewer CO2
emissions in the coming years.”
As for using SAF in their tanks, Cossetti said, “The entire Airbus Helicopters range is certified to fly on up to a 50% blend of SAF, which represents a 40% reduction in CO2
emissions
alone. On 9 November 2021 we performed the first flight of a helicopter using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in one of the two engines of an H225. This flight was the start of a flight campaign to assess the impact of
unblended SAF on
helicopter systems, with a view to certifying the use of SAF blends that exceed the current 50% limit.”
In addition to these
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