Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Airbus joined by NATS and European partners to demo fello’fly ops

Aerospace

Airbus joined by NATS and European partners to demo fello’fly ops

Airbus has signed agreements with three Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP), the UK’s NATS, EUROCONTROL and France’s DSNA (Direction des Services de la Navigation Aérienne), plus two airline customers, Frenchbee and SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), to demonstrate the operational feasibility of Airbus’ demonstrator project, fello’fly, for reducing aviation emissions.

Image copyright Airbus

Inspired by biomimicry, fello’fly is based on Wake Energy Retrieval (WER) to reduce aviation emissions. WER replicates the behaviour of birds, which fly together to reduce their energy consumption. The technique of a follower aircraft retrieving energy lost by a leader, by flying in the smooth updraft of air the wake creates, reduces fuel consumption in the range of 5-10% per trip.

Advertisement
Leonardo RT

Frenchbee and SAS will provide airline expertise in flight planning and operations for the collaborative requirements necessary for bringing together aircraft before and during a fello’fly operation. DSNA, NATS and EUROCONTROL will contribute air navigation expertise defining how two aircraft can be brought safely together, minimising impact on today’s procedures. In parallel Airbus will continue working on the technical solution to assist pilots in ensuring that aircraft remain safely positioned.

Under the agreements, Airbus, Frenchbee, SAS, DSNA, NATS and EUROCONTROL will develop a safe and realistic concept of operations (CONOPS) necessary to shape future operational regulations for fello’flights. Flight testing will take place throughout 2020 using two Airbus A350 aircraft, with the involvement of the airlines and ANSPs as early as 2021 in an oceanic airspace.

Given the high potential to make a significant impact on emissions reduction for the aviation industry as a whole, directly contributing to the sector’s sustainable growth goals, Airbus is targeting a controlled Entry-Into-Service (EIS), which is expected by the middle of this decade.

fello’fly is part of Airbus UpNext, an Airbus subsidiary created to give future technologies a development fast track by building demonstrators at speed and scale.

Advertisement
Teledyne

 

 


 

Advertisement
PTC PTC
Lucideon and MTC enter strategic partnership

Aerospace Defence

Lucideon and MTC enter strategic partnership

1 July 2025

Development and commercialisation organisation (DCO) specialising in advanced materials, Lucideon, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) to drive next-gen performance in advanced ceramics.

Teledyne FLIR OEM unveils new brand and website

Aerospace Defence Security

Teledyne FLIR OEM unveils new brand and website

1 July 2025

Teledyne FLIR OEM, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, today announced the strategic evolution of the Teledyne FLIR OEM brand.

Airbus Defence and Space implements new organisation

Aerospace

Airbus Defence and Space implements new organisation

1 July 2025

The new organisation of Airbus Defence and Space came into effect today, designed to shape the division’s future competitiveness.

Gulfstream G700 sets city-pair records using SAF

Aerospace

Gulfstream G700 sets city-pair records using SAF

1 July 2025

Last month the Gulfstream G700 set two new city-pair speed records en route to the International Paris Air Show at Paris-Le Bourget airport, using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Advertisement
Leonardo RT
IATA sees passenger and cargo growth in May

Aerospace

IATA sees passenger and cargo growth in May

30 June 2025

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for May 2025 that revealed global passenger demand was up by 5% and global air cargo demand grew by 2.2%.

ECT Aviation acquires its first Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Islander

Aerospace

ECT Aviation acquires its first Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Islander

30 June 2025

Republic of Ireland based ECT Aviation has acquired its first Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Islander aircraft, expanding its operations into dedicated cargo services between Europe and North Africa.

Advertisement
Leonardo RT