contrails

At stake is avoiding large quantities of CO2 emissions, as cirrus cloud-forming contrails total an estimated one-third of aviation’s harmful climate impact.

Fuel systems for hydrogen; 3D printing on the Moon; LH2 tank breakthrough; the cost of avoiding contrails; and Velis Electro approved for training.

While avoiding the formation of contrails is an emerging priority for aviation in reducing its climate impact, cost has been a concern for operators.

Avoiding contrails remains up for debate. Some are already selling tools to carriers. Others argue more work is needed to mature solutions and standards.

Contrail avoidance gains traction, but questions remain.

The agency and airframer are overcoming atmospheric and technical challenges to see how sustainable aviation fuel affects emissions and contrails.

Encouraged by the results of earlier experiments, Eurocontrol is planning further studies and tests on how to prevent contrail formation.

Carbon cycle benefits of SAF are known, but will it help reduce the formation of persistent contrails? A Boeing and NASA flight test looks to find out.

U.S. Energy Department’s advanced project agency launches aircraft contrail avoidance and high-energy battery projects.

Predicting contrail cirrus; Autonomy proving ground; eVTOL river crossing; Electric regional seaplane.

Teams led by Boeing, GE, Northrop Grumman and RTX are among those to receive funding to develop tools to mitigate contrail-related climate forcing.

Enabling contrail avoidance; hybrid regional demonstrator; next-generation HAPS; and quantum computing for R&D.