An Etihad Airways 787 Dreamliner commenced flight testing for Boeing’s ecoDemonstrator program; the special equipment onboard can enhance safety and reduce CO2 emissions and noise.

A series of flights will gather detailed information about aircraft acoustics from 1,200 microphones attached to the outside of the aircraft and positioned on the ground, allowing Boeing to improve aircraft noise prediction capabilities and inform future quiet aircraft designs. This is a collaboration between Boeing and NASA.

“Etihad participating in this year’s ecoDemonstrator program builds on our core innovation and sustainability tenets while supporting the research and development of our partners to bring innovation from the laboratory to a real-world testing environment,” said Mohammad Al Bulooki, chief operating officer, Etihad Aviation Group.

Boeing is also testing a handheld ultraviolet light wand to determine its effectiveness in disinfecting flight decks and cabins, and the test flights are being flown on a blend of up to 50 percent sustainable fuel.