Transatlantic flights will soon be able to change their routes to take advantage of favourable jet stream winds, and save fuel.
The decision by UK's National Air Traffic Services is based on research showing that aircraft save up to 16 percent of fuel, reduce emissions and journey times if they use jet stream winds.
Researchers showed, for example, that the average allocated pathway as assigned by Air Traffic Service between New York and London is around 200 kilometres longer than the most efficient route based on jet streams. Using these winds reduces emissions by almost seven million kilograms over three months.
Route flexibility will help in large and immediate emissions cuts, helping aviation become more environment friendly.
The Air Traffic service is taking advantage of low air traffic due to COVID19 to try these new flight paths.
The hope is to make these changes permanent and help fight climate change.
Original article:
Transatlantic aircraft win freedom to surf winds following Reading study
Original study:
Reducing transatlantic flight emissions by fuel-optimised routing