Airbus has achieved a significant milestone in its Fello'fly Project, which is intended to make it easier for formation flying to be introduced into commercial aviation.
The manufacturer's first long-haul formation demonstration was completed in regulated airspace on Tuesday. Airbus pilots flew a pair A350s just 3 km apart from Toulouse, France to Montreal.
The project's goal is to reduce the emissions of airlines. A trailing aircraft will benefit from the wake updraft generated by the leading plane. This is similar to what geese do when flying in their familiar triangle formation.
Airbus claimed that six tonnes of carbon dioxide were saved during the trip, and that the results showed that formation flying could be used to reduce long-haul fuel consumption by over 5%.
At the moment, aircraft flying over the United States must maintain a distance of at least 3 nautical mile, while those flying over the North Atlantic should be spaced far further apart.
Airbus conducted Tuesday's test with European and Canadian air traffic control agencies.
According to the manufacturer, the next step in Fello'fly's project is to get the support of authorities for commercial formation flying to be certified.
Airbus imagines planes flying together as partners not having to depart from the same terminal, but they could meet up on their way.
