Sarah Rose (they/them) is a news writer and reporter for AIN. 
Prior to AIN, Sarah worked as a journalist for Georgia Public Broadcasting, Georgia&#039;s statewide NPR and PBS affiliate. They have also worked for several national nonprofits and as a legislative assistant in U.S. Congress. As an openly nonbinary reporter, they are a proud member of the Trans Journalists Association. 
Sarah is a 2012 graduate of Kennesaw State University.

News Writer

Sarah Rose

Small altitude adjustments on business aviation flights could make a big difference in the environmental impacts of contrails—the condensation trails of aircraft—without CO2 emission tradeoffs. That's the assessment of a&nbsp;just-concluded environmental study conducted by aviation sustainability company 4Air has found that&nbsp;
The study, conducted over one year, encompassed 16,000 flights and more than 27,000 flight hours. It found that adjustments on even 50 flights out of 16,888 would have reduced the non-CO2 emission impact from the sample by more than 50%.
“The results of this study demonstrate both the challenges and opportunities with reducing aviation’s footprint from contrails,” said 4Air president Kennedy Ricci. “Effectively reducing our contrail warming impact requires considering contrails on every flight, but successfully avoiding on just a handful of flights would have a major impact, potentially without CO2 tradeoffs.”&nbsp;
Contrails are produced when hot water vapor emitted from aircraft engines rapidly cool at higher altitudes. Depending on the time of day, contrails can linger and absorb heat that would normally radiate back into space. Some studies suggest that contrails have a bigger impact on the environment than CO2 emissions and can contribute to two-thirds of the aviation industry’s warming impact.
Contrails can be formed at the upper end of a commercial aircraft’s service ceiling. Business aircraft, which have higher service ceilings, are able to fly higher than the formation region. This can reduce CO2 emissions and their contrail impact.
Of the 23 flights in the study with the highest contrail impact—which in total accounted for 35% of the total impact—65% of those flights could have minimized or avoided it by flying at a higher altitude. Eighteen percent of the flights surveyed created a contrail.
The average contrail was estimated to persist for around 2.5 hours, but more impactful warming came from contrails that lasted around 6.5 hours, according to the study.
4Air has also completed six months of a contrail avoidance pilot program in collaboration with Flexjet. That program focused on contrail forecasts and optimizing flight paths to minimize the time flights spend in contrail-forming regions. Flight paths were then adjusted to modify cruising altitudes—with notes shared among pilots to calibrate climbs and descents with the intent of minimizing time in contrail regions.
The company has offered what it calls “science-based goals and independently verified results” as a framework for private aviation operators to pursue sustainability options. It has offered a four-tier rating system for companies looking to verifiably reduce their emissions impact through means of becoming emission-neutral or negative through carbon credits and offsets and encouraging funding of the Aviation Climate Fund.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

4Air Says Small Changes to Routings Could Effect Big Environment Changes

Adjusting the altitudes of 50 flights could reduce impact by 50%

Small altitude adjustments on business aviation flights could make a difference on the environmental impacts of contrails.

Small Changes to Routings Could Effect Big Environment Changes

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

The report sees the Midwest as a future hotbed of SAF production

Environmental Group Sees U.S. e-Fuel Potential

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

NBAA called a study suggesting business aviation emissions will need to be regulated 'misleading' 

NBAA Challenges Study Highlighting Bizav Emissions

NASA's Gulfstream G-III will use lidar technology to scan contrails of GE's Boeing 747

NASA and GE Plan Flight Tests To Study Contrails

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Project also includes Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Honeywell Aerospace, and American Airlines, plus MIT and University of Michigan

NASA Contracts Electra for AACES Sustainable Airliner Program

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

4,000 solar panels have been fitted on buildings across the London-area facility

Solar Generates 25% of Farnborough's Electric Power

Matt Thurber

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

EBACE Convention News 2024

More In Environment

Environmental Group Sees U.S. e-Fuel Potential

The report sees the Midwest as a future hotbed of SAF production

NBAA Challenges Study Highlighting Bizav Emissions

NBAA called a study suggesting business aviation emissions will need to be regulated 'misleading'

NASA and GE Plan Flight Tests To Study Contrails

NASA's Gulfstream G-III will use lidar technology to scan contrails of GE's Boeing 747

NASA Contracts Electra for AACES Sustainable Airliner Program

Project also includes Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Honeywell Aerospace, and American Airlines, plus MIT and University of Michigan

Solar Generates 25% of Farnborough's Electric Power

4,000 solar panels have been fitted on buildings across the London-area facility

San Carlos Flight Center Adopts Unleaded Swift 100R

High-octane unleaded avgas is becoming more available in California

Minnesota Selected for SAF Production Site

DG Fuels plans for the $5 billion production facility to be operational by 2030

Still In Its Infancy, SAF Growing by Leaps and Bounds

With jet-A holding a 75-year head start over SAF, it will take time to catch up

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN