Google and the UK government are looking to remove aircraft contrails using AI
Researchers are working with the Met Office, the UK Government, and Google on Operation Blue Skies to use AI to reduce the incidence of contrails over the North Atlantic.
An ambitious £5 million initiative is set to explore whether artificial intelligence can help reduce or eliminate aircraft contrails. The UK government, Google, the Met Office, and various academic institutions are joining forces for Operation Blue Skies. The project aims to decrease contrails from aircraft traveling between Europe and North America.
Targeting the North Atlantic, Operation Blue Skies will examine whether diverting aircraft away from areas of cold air can minimize contrail formation and its negative climate impact. Google's role involves utilizing AI to process data and develop a model for contrail formation patterns. The Met Office and universities will work on forecasting and verifying data, while NATS ensures airspace safety and compliance.
The project, backed by the UK government's Department for Transport, focuses on the eastern portion of the North Atlantic corridor, which accounts for about 5% of global contrail-related warming. With two trials lasting four months each, the initiative will follow around 10,000 flights, making adjustments to minimize contrail formation where possible.
Upon completion, the findings could potentially become a standard practice for airlines. Google's technical lead, Dr. Paul Hodgson, explains that contrail warming is estimated to contribute to a third of aviation's climate impact, far surpassing the role of carbon dioxide emissions. The project is scheduled to commence trials in the winter of 2026-2027, with the second phase occurring in 2027-2028.
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