Efforts to reduce aircraft’s contributions towards global warming could mean flying at lower altitudes – meaning a bumpier ride for passengers.
The Times today quotes research by the DLR aviation institute in Germany, which is claiming that climate change impact by flights could be halved if pilots flew about 5,000 feet lower than at present. The reason for this is that doing so would prevent the formation of the tell-tale white trails that follow aircraft; The Times explains that the trails broaden after about 30 minutes to form a “blanket” that traps warm air and stops it escaping.
The newspaper states that the weather at 30,000 is warmer and drier than at 35,000 feet, and flying at that altitude would prevent the formation of condensation trails. However, flying at such altitudes would also mean a greater risk of turbulence.
John Green, of the industry environmental group Greener by Design, reportedly told The Times: “Avoiding condensation trails is possibly the most powerful way of reducing the impact of aviation on the environment. Passengers may not like it because it could involve flying through bumpy air, but the impact of turbulence could be reduced by technology.”
