Cambridge University’s Aviation Impact Accelerator unveils a blueprint for global contrail mitigation as a research study underlines a need for urgent steps.
An international research study says action needs to be taken now on contrails and every year of inaction raises the likelihood of a “significant climate risk.”
Since the beginning of the year, European airlines have been required to report non-CO2 effects. That data could help redefine aviation climate legislation.
Researchers and aerospace industry representatives called for more coordination and momentum to get larger-scale efforts to reduce contrails off the ground.
The aim of the tests was to measure the microphysical properties of the contrails resulting from direct hydrogen combustion under real atmospheric conditions.
The Blue Condor project is a research effort to study the impact of hydrogen on contrail formation using a modified glider powered by a hydrogen-fueled turbojet.
Against the backdrop of the COP29 conference taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, a group of aviation and climate scientists is urging faster action on contrails.
Contrails from hydrogen-fueled aircraft may form more readily and be more widespread than those from jet-fueled aircraft but have less of a climate impact.
More research is needed to understand the climate impacts of aviation’s non-CO2 emissions ahead of the formulation of policy incorporating them into the ETS.
French carrier Amelia has analyzed a dozen flight plans and modified some of them to prevent the formation of contrails as part of a broader Thales-led project.
Airbus is conducting a flight-test campaign to study the water vapor exhaust from a hydrogen fuel cell system to understand if it will create a contrail.
