Whenever there’s a conversation involving aviation and climate change, carbon emissions usually take centre stage. But Google says there’s another less obvious problem, which might be just as important.
That problem is contrails, the thin white streaks left behind by airplanes in the sky. According to the Google research report, these cloud-like formations can end up trapping heat in the atmosphere and contributing to global warming.
How does AI help make flying cleaner?
Google’s solution is to use AI models trained on satellite imagery, weather data, and flight paths to better predict where contrails will form. With this information, airlines can make small adjustments to the original flight routes or altitude to avoid creating these contrails.
So the airline industry doesn’t have to make drastic changes. In most cases, it’s all about minor tweaks during a flight, similarly to how pilots adjust altitude to avoid turbulence.
What did Google’s AI solution achieve?
An interesting fact revealed by the study was how big the impact contrails have on aviation’s climate impact. But Google has already teased the approach in collaboration with American Airlines. In early trials, pilots using the AI-guided routes were able to reduce contrail formation by more than 50%.
Google recently kicked off large-scale testing, which showed even better results. One study found that flights following AI recommendations produced significantly fewer contrails and reduced their associated warming impact.
Why this matters more than you think?
Contrails might look harmless, but their impact adds up. These form when aircraft fly through cold and humid air, creating ice crystals that can linger and evolve into heat-trapping clouds. But rather than cutting down flights, the more practical solution is avoiding the creation of these contrails.
This is a rare win for AI, which is often criticized for its burden on resources like power. But this is one of those positive examples where it actually has a more positive impact.