Fly for longer among EU aviation safety agency recommendations for fighting climate change

Many people are flying less in an effort to be eco-friendly, but an EU report has suggested a different way to help tackle climate change: fly for longer. Up to two-thirds of the climate impact from aviation is coming from non-carbon dioxide sources, the EASA said, much of which is caused by contrails created when planes fly through humid, cold parts of the atmosphere. EASA suggested that this impact could be reduced if planes take alternative routes, either by flying higher or lower in the sky or by flying a less direct path. The calculations would be based on meteorological models, and limits could be set on the greatest acceptable increase in either flight time or distance flown. Currently air traffic control is mainly tasked with preserving safety by keeping planes away from each other, so considering climate concerns would mark a significant change in approach, the report said. The option was one of six suggested to the EC, which was asked by the EU to investigate non-CO2 emissions from aircraft. Adding cleaner fuels to aeroplane fuel mixes and charging airlines for nitrogen dioxide emissions were also raised as potential solutions. While it has long been known that aeroplane contrails contribute to climate change, the extent of this impact is unclear. More research is needed on how to accurately predict the areas where large contrails are most likely to be formed, the report added. Story has more.<br/>