Google is working with the UK government to launch Operation Blue Skies, which aims to reduce the climate impact of aviation due to the formation of contrails or water vapour by aircraft engines. Although seemingly harmless, contrails behind aircraft paths contribute to around a third of the climate impact due to aviation.
Operation Blue Skies will be carried out in the Shanwick airspace in the North Atlantic, which contributes ~5% of global warming due to contrails. The programme will run for 30 months with two operational trials of 4 months each involving ~10,000 flights per year. A small proportion of flights will be diverted slightly to avoid the formation of contrails that cause warming temperatures.
Google UK will develop an AI model that predicts and avoids contrails that increase temperatures. Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge will evaluate the tests and confirm the impact on the climate. The Met Office will use the data to develop a contrail prediction model for use by the UK.
Avoiding the formation of contrails is considered one of the most effective ways to reduce the climate impact of aviation. Operation Blue Skies aims to prove that reducing contrail formation in airspace is practical and can be used as a future plan
