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Flightpath.
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SUPPORTING CLIMATE RESEARCH
The IAGOS (in-service aircraft for a global observing system) project, in which the Lufthansa Group is involved, uses commercial aircraft to obtain atmospheric data at cruising altitudes. Up to now, such data could only be obtained on a piecemeal basis and at great expense by using special research aircraft. According to the scientific panel appointed to oversee the project, IAGOS will close an important knowledge gap, resulting in more accurate climate forecasts. Lufthansa has been involved in IAGOS since July 2011. In co-operation with the Jülich Research Centre, it became the first airline worldwide to launch this innovative project for the long-term observation of the earth’s atmosphere during scheduled flight operations. Since then, specially developed measuring instruments installed on the Lufthansa Airbus A340-300 ‘Viersen’ have routinely captured atmospheric trace substances. This provides a broad set of data gathered from all over the world. After each landing, the data is read, processed and analysed. The Lufthansa Group has cooperated continuously with scientific and research institutions since 1993. The Group provides data to improve and validate climate models and has proved to be an invaluable partner in the field of climate research. F. »» The IAGOS project is also being supported by China Airlines, Air France, Cathay Pacific and Iberia Airlines, all of which will have equipment on board aircraft.
1_Lufthansa has installed measuring equipment on one of its Airbus A340-300 aircraft. 2_To improve fuel efficiency in flight, Lufthansa is also testing a new aircraft paint with a sharkskin-inspired riblet texture on two Airbus A340-300s. Eight 10 x 10cm test patches have been placed on the fuselage and wings of each aircraft to assess the coating’s durability in regular flight operations — a dirt-repellent texture is imprinted into the surface during painting. An initial 12-month trial has been extended after positive results. 2
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FINNAIR HAS REDUCED PER-SEAT CO2 BY 22% BETWEEN 1999 AND 2009. BUT IT’S NOT STOPPING THERE, THE AIM IS TO REDUCE PER-SEAT CO2 BY 41% IN TOTAL BY 2017.
» SCIENCE
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