Hohenkammer, DE, 8-10 December 2008:

Over 40 participants representing aircraft manufacturers, airline, stakeholders and scientists followed ECATS’ invitation to sit at the same table.

They took the opportunity to be informed about current knowledge of Contrail & Contrail Cirrus, and to discuss potential technical and operational mitigation options. Universal feeling expressed that although research is not yet conclusive, ATM world should be starting to look at possible mitigation actions or at least a system flexible enough to take this issue into account.

New simulations and satellite observations were presented, showing most obvious the relation between air traffic and contrail cirrus formation. Operational options for contrail avoidance turned out to have currently greater potential than technical options. This is subject to a reliable aviation weather forecast including ice supersaturated regions. Aspects of how to internalise external costs of aviation’s climate impact including contrail formation were presented.

The workshop ended in a fruitful discussion. The Aviation Community needs clear, reliable guidance on the impact of contrail cirrus on climate change. The participants recommended to include the topic of contrail mitigation in major projects like SESAR and JTI Clear Sky.