COMPANION Project: Advancing Aviation Technology
The COMPANION project (Common Platform and Advanced Instrumentation Readiness for Ultra-Efficient Propulsion Demonstration) officially commenced on January 1, 2024. This ambitious 30-month research initiative, funded under the Clean Aviation program, aims to develop a cutting-edge flight test demonstrator platform for validating next-generation propulsion systems. The project is led by Airbus and brings together an impressive consortium including DLR, ONERA, NLR, Ecole Centrale Lyon, EASN-TIS, DNW and INSA.
The propulsion technologies to be tested during Clean Aviation Phase 2 target a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 30% compared to 2020 levels, directly supporting Europe's commitment to sustainable and efficient aviation.
Project Goals and Vision
COMPANION is creating a shared flight test platform utilizing an Airbus A380 aircraft, adapted to host advanced propulsion systems such as an Open Fan test engine and a hybrid-electric Ultra-High Bypass Turbofan. These technologies will be tested using a mix of conventional and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).
Key Highlights from Recent Months
Conference Participation
In June 2024, Alessandro Bassetti and Henri Siller from DLR represented COMPANION at the 30th AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference in Rome, Italy. Their presentation, titled "On Source Localization and Far Field Extrapolation for Jet Aeroacoustics Measurements in Wind Tunnels," showcased the challenges and methodologies in measuring jet installation noise in wind tunnels.
Key meetings:
June 2024: Project Management Committee (PMC) #2 & General Assembly (GA) #2 at Airbus Leadership University in Blagnac
The discussions focused on a technical update of Q2 activities across the various sub-work packages, a review of the status of Q1 and Q2 deliverables and milestones, and the presentation of the second Quarterly Report.
September 2024: Project Management Committee (PMC) #3 & General Assembly (GA) #3.
The discussions included a technical update on Q3 activities, a review of the status of Q1–Q3 deliverables and milestones, and the presentation of the third Quarterly Report.
November 2024: Annual Review Meeting (ARM) held at the Clean Aviation premises in Brussels.
The meeting began with Airbus presenting the project’s context, objectives, and timeline, establishing a comprehensive framework to highlight its strategic importance. This was followed by discussions on the COMPANION project’s contributions to and synergies with other projects, as well as the demonstration strategy, emphasizing its alignment with the broader Clean Aviation goals.
Subsequent presentations by work package (WP) leaders and partners provided detailed updates on the implementation status of the project, highlighting progress, key achievements, and ongoing challenges. The meeting concluded with valuable feedback and recommendations from the Reviewers, offering insights to guide the consortium in refining its approach and ensuring the project remains on track to achieve its objectives.
Upcoming events:
We are excited to announce the upcoming launch of a series of posts introducing the COMPANION Consortium partners, highlighting the unique roles of each team and their contributions to the project's progress and innovative work.
Stay informed and engaged with the latest developments in the COMPANION project by following our social media updates on LinkedIn.
The project is supported by the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking and its members.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking. Neither the European Union nor Clean Aviation JU can be held responsible for them.