Condensation trails, these white lines created by planes in the sky, have an impact on global warming comparable to that of CO2 emissions, which could be reduced by modifying the trajectories of certain flights, according to a study published Wednesday. “By slightly modifying the flight trajectories of a small part of the global fleet, the climate impact of contrails could be reduced by half before 2040,” according to this new study carried out by the NGO Transport & Environment ( YOU). “This measure would cost a maximum of 4 euros per passenger for a transatlantic flight,” according to the same source.
An adaptation of flight plans
The report proposes “avoidance strategies” to prevent the creation of condensation trails “which are persistent, which last for several hours” and which “have a warming effect, mainly at night, when they prevent terrestrial radiation from escape into space,” Jérôme du Boucher, aviation manager at T&E France, explained to AFP.
Concretely, a pilot would have to adapt his flight plan to pass “either a little above or a little below an atmospheric air mass which has been identified by meteorological models”, knowing that masses of Wetter and colder air are favorable to the creation of these condensation trails, he detailed. “Aviation has a simple and inexpensive way to reduce its impact on the climate,” said Jérôme du Boucher.
According to the study, just 3% of flights generate 80% of the warming due to these contrails, also called contrails. The change of trajectory would only occur on a limited number of flights and on a small part of the journey. The surplus fuel used by these planes would therefore only represent 0.5% of the kerosene consumed by the entire world fleet over a year. Classified among non-CO2 emissions from aircraft, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), these trails are increasingly studied. They were the subject of a symposium in Montreal in September, organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
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