Highly Efficient Civil Aviation, Now via Operations - AAR & Challenges

New technologies could feature in future e.g. Natural Laminar flow, riblets, enhanced loads alleviation, composite tailoring, morphing structures, distributed propulsion, bio-fuels etc. These may make significant improvements and lead to unconventional layouts e.g. blended wing bodies, high aspect ratio wings, oblique wings, and joined wings. Additionally, significant environmental gains can be made via operations e,g AAR and Formation flying. Air-to-air refuelling (AAR) has been practised and perfected by the Military for 80+ years. Tankers are sky “gas-stations”. The Military objective is for mission success rather than fuel economy. Tankers accompany and refuel short-range aircraft over longer missions. AAR can be a strong enabler for the civil aviation. Small dedicated tankers (A320 size) can operate over short radii, refuelling longer range cruisers. AAR will always retain top hierarchy over any technological advances, offering step change towards highly efficient aviation. We discuss the pros and cons of operational issues, routing and constraints, turbulence, air navigation and environmental impact. Replacing today´s inter-continental system with AAR gives fuel and CO2 reductions of 15-30% depending on range. Additionally, 30-40% weight savings lead manufacturers focus on smaller aircraft. Major COC and DOC reductions of a similar order occur. Noise, emissions, wake effects are favourable, meeting ACARE / NASA goals.