© Shutterstock
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently awarded six private companies more than $100 million through the Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Program to develop technologies that reduce fuel use, emissions and noise.
CLEEN is a public-private partnership that is part the FAA’s overall strategy to tackle climate change and lower the impact of aviation on it. Companies receiving contracts are required to match or exceed the FAA’s investment. This is phase three of the FAA’s program.
The companies receiving awards are:
- Boeing to develop technologies to reduce noise from the wings, landing gear, and engine inlets, and for the evaluation of alternative jet fuels;
- Delta TechOps, GKN Aerospace, MDS Coating, and America’s Phenix working collectively to develop erosion-resistant fan blade coatings for engines;
- General Electric Aviation to develop an engine propulsion system, advanced acoustic improvements, advanced combustion and thermal management systems, and to evaluate alternative jet fuels;
- Honeywell Aerospace to develop a more efficient engine fan, combustion system, compressor, and turbine;
- Pratt & Whitney to develop an ultra-quiet engine fan and an advanced combustion system; and
- Rohr to develop acoustic technology.
The projects will focus on reducing aviation emissions and noise while reducing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions.