In recent times, speedy traveling has increased significantly with a need to meet the dynamics of a faster business. A shift of manufacturing bases to Asia from the high cost developed regions of North America and Europe, resulting in increased movement of humans as well as materials and finished products, further calls for low airfares. At a time when oil prices constantly hovering over US$50 that do not show signs of waning, and have triggered a rise in fuel cost, causing tremendous problems for airlines all around the World.

Newer designs of air crafts have been incorporated using higher amount of polymeric material to reduce the overall weight of the aircrafts, providing some fuel economy. The light weight of the polymeric material helps to shed almost 15 tons (5-7% of the total weight) of the aircraft will help to overcome problems caused by rising fuel costs. Carbon fiber reinforced polymeric composites as well as glass fiber reinforced material are widely used in air crafts. Higher usage of polymeric materials call for careful design considerations and some modifications of the existing designs to incorporate the typical characteristics of this material compared to the conventional material.

In the new A 380 with a carrying capacity of 555 passengers by leading aircraft manufacturer Airbus, polymeric material constitutes 22% of the total weight of the aircraft. This aircraft contains 61% of Aluminum alloys and another 10% of steel titanium alloy.

With escalating oil and fuel prices, will the future air crafts increase the use of polymeric material beyond 22%? Most of the pundits feel very confident that they will.