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Germany's Fraunhofer Institute is part of a consortium developing innovative solutions for more environmentally friendly air travel as part of the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative.

It will be one of the largest European research projects ever, with a budget estimated at 1.6 billion euros ($2.2 billion) equally shared between the European Commission, the EU's executive body, and participating industry partners over the period 2008 - 2013.

"As globalization continues to mount, flying becomes increasingly important to people. The Fraunhofer Institute intends to play its part in making air travel more environmentally-friendly despite the rising volume of passengers," said Holger Hanselka, director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability (LBF) and a member of the governing board - the steering committee of the Clean Sky JTI.

The project aims to reduce carbon dioxid, or CO2, nitrogen monoxide and noise emissions by 50, 80 and 50 percent respectively by the year 2020, as well as introduce sustainable lifecycles for all aircraft components.

Several participating Fraunhofer institutes will be displaying their innovative work at the Paris Air Show from June 15 to 21.  

Researchers at LBF, for example, are working on an intelligent early warning and monitoring system that makes the lightweight construction of wings and other components safer. This solution incorporates optical fibers and special components called piezoceramic patches. By interlinking experimental and numerical test procedures, the work performed at the LBF is highly specialized. This approach, for instance, increases component safety while, at the same time, it quickens the development cycle.

One essential resource for accelerating these development processes is the simulation of materials and components. The Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research (IGD) has facilities for the visual representation of complex aerodynamic forces on wing section edges.

Away from the computer, the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP) boasts a unique testing resource: the Flight Test Facility. It houses an actual cabin from a passenger jet, allowing researchers to expose it to a range of pressure and interior climate conditions, and thereby analyze the well-being of up to 80 passengers at a time.

The IBP also examins how aircraft noise can be reduced and energy efficiency increased. Together with aircraft manufacturers, the researchers are making improvements to the cabin climate. They are analyzing air quality, hygiene, thermal comfort, acoustics, lighting, as well as looking for solutions to improve the transport of heat and moisture in the fuselage.

Meanwhile other Fraunhofer Insitutues are focusing on advances in materials: Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Materials Research (IFAM) have developed adhesive techniques for aircraft manufacturers, which produce more durable, safer bonds than current methods.

And at the Fraunhofer Institute for Electronic Nanosystems (ENAS), scientists are working with micro and nanotechnologies in order to integrate smart systems (complex sensors) into components.

Fiber-reinforced composites are lighter but also more robust than conventional materials. Experts at the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) have succeeded in taking a sheet molding compound and developing extremely height-resistant lightweight construction solutions. Given their low density and excellent temperature and chemical resistance, these components are able to withstand mechanical, chemical and thermal pressures while maintaining good form stability.