Boeing has introduced a sustainable engine wash technology for Australia’s fleet of C-17 Globemaster IIIs with aims to cut the company's environmental impact and extend engine life.
The company says that, compared to traditional wash methods, the Lufthansa Technik Cyclean technology improves engine efficiency through a deeper clean of the engine core, cutting 80 tons of CO2 emissions per engine annually and reducing fuel consumption by one percent. They also said that the system uses 50 percent less water and is 20 percent faster.
“Transitioning to a carbon-neutral aerospace industry by 2050 requires the adoption of more sustainable practices in our global fleet maintenance programs,” said Robert Boyd, Boeing's Acting Regional Sustainability Lead APAC.
“The success of this system demonstrates the importance of continued investment in new technology and customer partnerships to improving fleet efficiency and reducing our environmental impact.”
With the addition of the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) fleet of eight C-17s, Boeing now uses the engine wash technology on 275 C-17 aircraft operated by nine global customers as part of the C-17 Globemaster III Global Fleet Contract.
Boeing Defence Australia has implemented a similar system, the EcoPower Engine Wash, on the RAAF’s P-8A Poseidon fleet, which they say uses less water, recycles wastewater for use in future washes, and improves engine performance.