Wake energy retrieval takes flight: Consortium proves feasibility of formation-inspired fuel savings

A consortium including Airbus, Air France, Delta Air Lines, French bee, and Virgin Atlantic-alongside operations partners AirNav Ireland, DSNA, EUROCONTROL, and NATS-has successfully completed a new phase of trials for wake energy retrieval (WER). Inspired by the flight patterns of migrating geese, this technique allows a following aircraft to harness reduced drag from a leading aircraft, potentially cutting fuel consumption by up to 5% on long-haul flights.

Eight trials conducted over the North Atlantic between September and October 2025 demonstrated the feasibility of guiding two aircraft to a precise rendezvous point while maintaining full vertical separation and regulatory compliance. While actual wake energy retrieval flights have not yet been tested on commercial routes, the successful completion of the rendezvous process-developed through the SESAR GEESE project and Airbus' fello'fly initiative-marks a critical step toward future efficiency gains.

This milestone built on earlier progress made throughout 2025. In March, the project launched its validation phase with a tabletop exercise in Toulouse, where pilots, dispatchers, and flight operations experts collaborated to test the Airbus PAT. As spring progressed, the consortium conducted real-time simulations across Europe to refine operational procedures and assess human performance. In Madrid, Lithuanian air traffic controllers tested ATC-pilot communication using a prototype controller working position, while simulations at DSNA's Brest control centre focused on perfecting phraseology and communication. Additional exercises at Air France's Charles-de-Gaulle facilities explored collaborative decision-making for WER flight plan adjustments, using EUROCONTROL's Planta platform to streamline coordination.

The 2025 trials validated a meticulous process: the Airbus PATcalculated new trajectories in real time; dispatchers, crews, and ATC assessed these for operational viability; one aircraft adjusted its route to meet the other; and both crews committed to arriving at the exact predetermined time. With these achievements, the GEESE team is now analysing the data and preparing for the next phase of validations.

More about GEESE

Read Airbus press release