Lufthansa commences conversion of A350-900 into climate research aircraft

Lufthansa commenced (07-Apr-2021) the conversion of one A350-900 (registration D-AIXJ) into a climate research aircraft. In Lufthansa Technik's Malta hangar, the initial and most extensive conversion work was carried out, with conversion works preceded by an elaborate planning and development phase of approximately four years, involving more than ten companies, as well as the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology as representative of a larger scientific consortium. The aircraft is expected to launch its first service for climate research at the end of 2021 in Munich, measuring approximately 100 different trace gases, aerosol and cloud parameters in the tropopause region. [more - original PR]