EasyJet unveiled a radical new aircraft design today (14 June) that it says could fly by 2015, cutting CO2 by 50% and emitting less noise
Produced by an internal aeronautical team within easyJet, the so-called ”ecoJet” project has been seen by both Boeing and Airbus, although no firm commitment has yet been made by either manufacturer.
The most radical aspect of the new aircraft is the rear-mounted open-rotor engines, that were initially evaluated in the 1970s and which could be shielded from producing excessive noise by being housed in the empennage.
EasyJet says that its ambitious ecoJet CO2 reduction of 50% will happen via a 25% emissions drop using an unducted fan engine, a 15% fall from new airframe technology and 10% from improved air traffic control procedures.
The low cost carrier, a long-term customer of Airbus, says that it has held discussions with both the Toulouse manufacturer and Boeing, as easyJet chief executive, Andy Harrison, outlined. ”We are talking to Airbus, Boeing and engine producers, who are actively working on the next generation of aircraft,” he said.
”A lot of aeronautical engineering has gone into this model ” this is not Star Trek technology.”
Airbus has gone through some much publicised delivery difficulties of late, with its delayed A380 programme and changes to the A350XWB design, but Harrison is confident that should the manufacturer be the eventual ecoJet builder, it would provide the aircraft on time. ”We are saying to Airbus, make sure you are ahead in the battle for short range aircraft,” he said, adding: ”They have the resources to do this.”
In terms of what passengers might notice, mounting the engines at the rear would certainly make for a quieter cabin, although the forward swept laminar flow wing, will dictate a slightly slower cruise speed of Mach 0.75 compared to conventional designs operating at 0.78/0.79. Should ATC procedures improve, including the adoption of the so-called ”Single European Sky,” passengers should make up the shortfall of around five minutes on London-Madrid, by utilising more efficient flying methods such as steeper and continuous descents.
Speaking to ABTN, Harrison added: ”I think this design will fly more or less as the same in 2015 ” it”s quite probable. We don”t design aircraft but we buy them ” we know a lot.”
EasyJet has been calling for some time for older aircraft in Europe”s fleets to be retired sooner rather than later ” Harrison”s estimate is that around 600 aircraft fall into this category ” and even including his own relatively young A319 fleet as they age.
”Older aircraft flying today should be taken out of the skies and dismantled,” he said. ”There is no point in sending them to Africa and our A319s should not go for their full life ” we will replace them.”
Warming to his environmental theme as he unveiled the ecoJet, Harrison appealed to the aviation industry to show greater unity in putting its green credentials across.
”We have been very much on the back foot and we have got a great story to tell,” he said. ”The aviation industry is riven with factional and competitive rivalry. We are launching a new industry-wide forum known as Flying Matters to bring engine and airframe manufacturers, airlines and airports together.
”My biggest fear is that people, some of them in government, who either don”t understand or who won”t take the time to understand, come up with daft policy ideas.”
Our image shows Any Harrison ecoJet 100 model