Lufthansa Group to Invest in Innovative Flight Profile Transmission Technology

From 2024, all new Lufthansa Group A320/A321neo aircraft will be delivered with automated flight profile transmission technology.

The new 4D flight trajectory will automatically transmit 4D flight path information, generated by the aircraft flight management system (FMS), to air traffic control (ATC) at any time.

Based on this information, ATC can then control the airspace with greater efficiency and optimise the routing of the aircraft.

With the installation of this new technology, Lufthansa Group aims to further improve airspace management in Europe and fly more sustainably.

From 2024, the Group will receive 65 Airbus A320neo/A321neo on order – with each aircraft equipped with this ADS-C EPP (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Contract Extended Projected Profile) system.

However, the new aircraft will only be able to use this technology in Maastricht airspace, the first airspace in the EU to meet these requirements.

At present, the technology is currently only certified for the Airbus A320 family and the Airbus A330neo.

Airspace improvements
From 2028, this new technology must be installed as standard in all newly delivered aircraft in the EU, and in all ATC ground systems.

Lufthansa Group is invested in pioneering this technology at an early stage, promoting its use throughout Europe before this deadline.

Dr Detlef Kayser, Member of the Lufthansa Group’s Executive Board responsible for Fleet and Technology, said that the implementation of this technology will: “enable our pilots to fly even more efficiently on first flights within Europe as early as next year, thus reducing CO2 emissions.”