Multiple German airline companies are trialing methods to prevent environmentally harmful contrails.
Multiple airlines in Germany are looking into ways to minimize the environmental impact of contrails, which are formed from airplane exhaust in the sky. Airlines participating in the "100-Flights Program" include Lufthansa, Condor, Tuifly, DHL, and EAT. The goal of this program is to find ways of flying that aren't as harmful to the environment.
To achieve this, the German Air Traffic Control and Eurocontrol are working together to optimize flight routes. This would involve avoiding certain areas where the air is particularly humid and cold, because the hot exhaust gases from the engines can condense and form small cirrus clouds in these areas. These clouds then reflect the heat of the earth and exacerbate the greenhouse effect.
However, it's unclear whether re-routing these large air masses will actually have a significant impact on the climate. This has to be weighed against the additional CO2 emissions from the detours.
The final results of this program are still pending, and will be evaluated in conjunction with scientific institutions. One thing that is certain is that using automated processes for flight planning can lead to a more sustainable way of flying. The BDL News Director, Matthias von Randow, stresses that the 100-Flights Program should not be seen as a stand-alone project, but rather as part of a larger effort to develop aviation that's climate-neutral.
