June 25, 2010 - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced $125 million in contracts to develop and demonstrate technologies that will reduce commercial jet fuel consumption, emissions and noise. The contracts are part of the FAA’s Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) program — to speed the introduction of “green” technology into aviation.  

“The FAA is working with the aviation community to aggressively meet critical environmental and energy goals,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “The CLEEN program is a central piece of the Next Generation air traffic modernization environmental strategy.”

The FAA is contracting with Boeing, General Electric, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce-North America. The five companies will research and demonstrate a variety of technologies, including:   sustainable alternative aviation fuels; lighter and more efficient gas turbine engine components; noise-reducing engine nozzles; advanced wing trailing edges; optimized flight trajectories using onboard flight management systems; and open rotor and geared turbofan engines.