In a six-month trial involving 70 test flights, American Airlines pilots used Google and Breakthrough’s contrail forecast maps to reduce contrail formation by 54%. Although this resulted in a 2% increase in fuel consumption, the overall impact was a minor 0.3% increase across the airline’s entire fleet. The cost of this climate benefit, equivalent to avoiding a ton of carbon dioxide emissions, is estimated to be between $5 and $25. The research is yet to be peer-reviewed and further research is needed to determine the feasibility of large-scale implementation.
Key takeaways:
- Google, American Airlines, and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy are working together to develop sustainable flight routes that limit contrails, which contribute to global warming.
- Using AI and satellite imagery, they have developed a method to forecast where contrails are likely to form, allowing pilots to adjust their routes and minimize the environmental impact.
- Test flights using this method reduced contrails by 54%, indicating that adjusting flight paths could be a viable way for the aviation industry to address climate change.
- Despite the research showing promising results, it has yet to be peer-reviewed and more research is needed to determine if this method can be implemented on a larger scale.