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JAXA conducts research and development on environment-friendly clean engines, aerodynamic technology, composite materials, piloting systems and other related technologies as it strives to develop a highly fuel-efficient, low-noise, and environment-friendly domestic passenger aircraft.

Research on Domestically made Passenger Aircraft Technology

Since the end of Japan Fiscal Year (JFY) 2007 when the future commercialization of a domestically made passenger aircraft was decided, JAXA has been engaged in the development of such an aircraft, aiming at a first flight in JFY 2011 and entering the market in JFY 2013. This is the first time for Japan to develop a domestically made passenger plane since the development of the YS-11 almost half a century ago. The developing aircraft is an environment-friendly, high-tech aircraft that enables an increase in fuel efficiency by 20 percent compared to conventional airplanes of the same size. Improving environmental compatibility is part of the critical global agenda, thus, in 2003, the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) started the "Environmentally Compatible High-performance Small Aircraft Research and Development Project” in Japan. The project carries out research and development of aviation technologies that lead to high fuel efficiency, low noise and easier piloting operations. JAXA also set up a project team around the same time to participate in the NEDO project as a cooperative research organization.
This project engages in research on technologies that are necessary for improving fuel efficiency, noise reduction and safety. The research themes cover various areas that are imperative for aircraft development including aerodynamics, noise reduction, structure safety, composite materials, piloting systems, and various test technologies. Through cooperative research efforts with aircraft manufacturers, JAXA aims at improving the achievements of our cutting-edge research that have been cultivated by JAXA, such as research on numerical fluid analysis, wind-tunnel test measurements, low-cost composite materials and flight simulations to be able to apply them to actual aircraft design development.

Research on Environmentally Friendly Clean Engine Technology

In recent years, technology that is compatible with environment protection is in high demanded to cope with an ever-increasing volume of air traffic worldwide and the global greenhouse gas problem. Such technology includes that for the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emitted from aircraft and noise reduction for neighboring residential areas of airports.
JAXA is cooperating with companies who participate in a project called “Environmentally Compatible Small Aircraft Engine Research and Development Project (Eco-engine Project)” led by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and other similar projects to conduct research on a combustor that can reduce NOx emissions to less than half the level of the Committee on Aviation Environment Protection 4 (CAEP4) standard set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). JAXA also engages in other research and development for clean engine technology for realizing an environmentally friendly engine that can easily satisfy aviation environment standards. For example, higher combustion temperatures are required to achieve better fuel efficiency with less CO2 emissions. JAXA studies turbine blade cooling technology and evaluation technology for insulation materials that are essential for higher combustion temperatures. We are also working on noise evaluation technology and noise reduction technology to further decrease noise.