Five years from now, the air travel industry is projected to be quite different. “There will be requirements for lower-noise aircraft, lower-polluting aircraft, lighter-weight aircraft,” says John Arnone, a spokesman for Bombardier Aerospace. Instead of waiting for the regulations to take effect, Bombardier engineers intend to meet them now. Specifically, they’re focusing on the 100- to 149-seat market of commercial planes. “This is a segment that is currently served by older generation aircraft, many of which are due for retirement,” Arnone says. So Bombardier is developing the CSeries class. The class consists of two models, the 125-seat CS100 and the 145-seat CS300. Both planes feature ranges of 2,200 nautical miles at maximum speeds of Mach 0.82.

Here’s a look at how engineers will meet the looming requirements, without sacrificing performance in the CSeries:

Composite Materials

Both the CS100 and CS300 will be built from advanced light-weight materials. Only 30% of the plane bodies will be constructed from titanium, steel and other standard alloys. The planes will be primarily made with advanced composites (46%) and aluminum lithium (24%), which are both light and strong.

The Engine

Compared to others in its class, the CSeries aircraft are designed to offer a 20% increase in fuel economy and 20% and 50% reductions in carbon dioxide (CO_²) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, respectively. While light-weight construction certainly helps improve fuel efficiency and decreased emissions, another important aspect is the engine. CSeries planes will be equipped with the Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW 1000G engine. This engine features advanced turbine aerodynamics, low-pressure compressors and turbines, and a fan drive gear system, all which contribute to efficiency. Performance isn’t sacrificed, either, as it can deliver up to 23,000 lbs. of thrust. The engine is also quiet, operating 20 decibels lower than conventional engines. The CSeries is projected to fly four times quieter than others in the class.