Environmental Experts: Redirecting Flights Can Cut Aviation ImpactNew Study Finds Rerouting Flights May Reduce Contrails by 73%

A team of environmental experts have discovered, through computer simulations, that redirecting commercial airplanes to prevent contrails would not be as costly as previously estimated. Their study, which was published in the journal Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability, involved the use of data from previous research to create simulations of flights that would avoid contrail formation.

Previous studies have indicated that airplanes flying at high altitudes contribute significantly to climate change due to their various effects on the environment. In addition to emitting greenhouse gases, these jets can also produce contrails, which are trails of ice, water vapor, and particles. When multiple planes fly in the same area for an extended period of time, these contrails can combine and form cirrus clouds, trapping heat like a blanket. It has been estimated that this accounts for about 35% of the total impact of aviation on global warming.

Further research has shown that only a small percentage of flights, 2%-10%, produce the majority of contrails. Therefore, researchers have proposed that rerouting these flights could greatly reduce the aviation industry's environmental impact. However, some argue that the cost of such a measure would not be justified.

To determine if this is indeed the case, American Airlines collaborated with another team of researchers last summer to create computer models and AI tools using weather and satellite data. Their goal was to assess the feasibility of diverting flights from airspace that would lead to contrail formation. Their findings showed that it was possible to reduce contrail formation by approximately 54%.

Building on this research, the team in this new study used the same data to simulate 85,000 high-altitude flights and found that it was possible to reduce contrails by 73% at a minimal cost. They estimated that fuel costs would only increase by 0.11%, and overall operating costs would only increase by 0.08%. Furthermore, this measure would only affect 14% of all flights.

In conclusion, the team of scientists has shown that redirecting commercial flights to avoid contrail formation is a feasible and cost-effective way to reduce the aviation industry's impact on the environment. This could have a significant positive impact on mitigating climate change and promoting sustainability in the industry.

David Lamy
David Lamy Author
David Lamy owns the Bachelor in Atmospheric Science Degree. He is associated with Industry News USA from last 2 years. With proficiency in his work, David obtained a strong position at Industry News USA and heads the Science section. “Weather forecasting” is the field of his interest. He bags total 5 years of experience in this field. Apart from his routine work, David loves to explore his cooking skills. He has participated in various cookery shows.