UK Air Navigation Service to Conduct Large-Scale Contrail Avoidance Trial Over North Atlantic
The UK air navigation service provider, NATS, is preparing to conduct a significant contrail management trial aimed at reducing the climate-warming effects of contrails. This initiative, set to take place over the North Atlantic during the winter months, involves collaboration with the UK government, Google, the Met Office, and Cambridge University. The trial will focus on identifying ice-supersaturated regions (ISSRs) that contribute to contrail formation and exploring methods to minimize their creation. Potential solutions include flight planning to avoid ISSRs and adjusting aircraft altitudes. The trial is scheduled for the quieter winter months to leverage lower traffic volumes and the prevalence of ISSRs during this period. 
