Contrail avoidance
Following a study by Imperial College London, NATS’ research & development and sustainable operations teams have teamed up with Imperial and the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) to investigate the link between where aircraft fly and contrail formation in the airspace we manage.
The climate change impact of aviation is usually focused on CO2 emissions. However, we now have a better understanding of the impact of non-CO2 factors, such as contrails.
Since 2020, the team has begun to discover the patterns between contrail formation and aviation’s operations over the Atlantic Ocean.
By predicting where supersaturated air is going to form over the Atlantic, and with the benefit of oceanic flight data, the study is investigating the possibility of avoiding these areas, either by airlines flight planning around them or by managing air traffic flows tactically to minimise contrail formation.
We hope to conduct a contrail avoidance trial over the eastern half of the north Atlantic, where NATS provides the air traffic control service.
We could use real-time observed data and forecasts to investigate tactical requests to avoid ice supersaturated regions (ISSRs), where contrails are expected to form. We would also be able to trial pre-tactical flight plan decisions to avoid ISSRs, based on ISSR forecasts.
Knowledge sharing practices and research collaborations with universities and industry partners are fundamental to achieving the aviation industry’s path to net zero by 2050.
