ATR performs Clean Sky’s ‘All Electrical Aircraft’ flight test campaign
An ATR 72 prototype has taken to the skies to launch the second flying demonstration campaign as part of the EU’s Clean Sky Joint Undertaking (CS JU) program. The aim of this flight trial is to test an all electrical energy management system, optimizing the electrical power distribution. This second flight test campaign also performs checks on a new all electrical air conditioning system.
The current ‘All Electrical Aircraft’ (AEA) flight tests campaign comes on the heels of the first “green” flying demonstration of the Clean Sky program, succeeded on July 2015 with the same ATR 72 prototype aircraft. The aim of the first flight test campaign was to test new and more effective composite insulation materials and new vibro-acoustic sensors integrated into a large panel of the ATR aircraft fuselage. The flights also tested new generation optical fibers for improved identification of micro-cracks and easier maintenance.
The advanced technologies tested through AEA Flying Demonstrator have been jointly developed by ATR’s shareholder Finmeccanica (formerly Alenia Aermacchi), CS JU members such as Liebherr for the electrical air conditioning system and Thales for the electrical generation, and CS JU partners via calls for proposals. ATR has been part of the project since it was initiated in 2008 through its Italian shareholder Finmeccanica the Coordinator of Green Regional Aircraft Integrated Technology Demonstrator, inside the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative (CS JTI). Clean Sky is a measure adopted by the European Parliament to support the trend of public-private partnership initiatives in the field of research. The aim is to jointly develop a broad spectrum of technologies devoted to a clean, innovative and competitive air transport system.
Alessandro Amendola, ATR’s Senior Vice-President Engineering, underlined “the outstanding work jointly carried out by teams at Finmeccanica and ATR in order to test the new ‘all electrical systems’ and further contribute to developing a greener version of regional aviation. The ATR aircraft already have a reputation worldwide for their low fuel burn and their environmental friendliness. Contributing to developing and deploying new technologies for the greener aviation of tomorrow is a key part of ATR’s identity”.
The current ‘All Electrical Aircraft’ (AEA) flight tests campaign comes on the heels of the first “green” flying demonstration of the Clean Sky program, succeeded on July 2015 with the same ATR 72 prototype aircraft. The aim of the first flight test campaign was to test new and more effective composite insulation materials and new vibro-acoustic sensors integrated into a large panel of the ATR aircraft fuselage. The flights also tested new generation optical fibers for improved identification of micro-cracks and easier maintenance.
The advanced technologies tested through AEA Flying Demonstrator have been jointly developed by ATR’s shareholder Finmeccanica (formerly Alenia Aermacchi), CS JU members such as Liebherr for the electrical air conditioning system and Thales for the electrical generation, and CS JU partners via calls for proposals. ATR has been part of the project since it was initiated in 2008 through its Italian shareholder Finmeccanica the Coordinator of Green Regional Aircraft Integrated Technology Demonstrator, inside the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative (CS JTI). Clean Sky is a measure adopted by the European Parliament to support the trend of public-private partnership initiatives in the field of research. The aim is to jointly develop a broad spectrum of technologies devoted to a clean, innovative and competitive air transport system.
Alessandro Amendola, ATR’s Senior Vice-President Engineering, underlined “the outstanding work jointly carried out by teams at Finmeccanica and ATR in order to test the new ‘all electrical systems’ and further contribute to developing a greener version of regional aviation. The ATR aircraft already have a reputation worldwide for their low fuel burn and their environmental friendliness. Contributing to developing and deploying new technologies for the greener aviation of tomorrow is a key part of ATR’s identity”.
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About ATR
ATR is the world number one regional aircraft manufacturer with its ATR 42 and 72 aircraft the best-selling aircraft in the less than 90-seat market segment. The unifying vision of the company’s employees is to help everyone, no matter where they are in the world, to connect and develop in a responsible manner. Thanks to the efficiency of turboprop technology and the benefits of the company’s focus on continuous innovation, ATR aircraft open over 130 new routes every year on average, burn 45% less fuel and emit 45% less CO2 than regional jets. For all of these reasons, ATR aircraft have been chosen by some 200 companies in 100 countries around the world. ATR is a joint-venture between Airbus and Leonardo.