Boeing, NASA, and United Airlines have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at conducting flight tests to measure the impact of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) on contrail formation and emissions. Additionally, they will explore ways to reduce the environmental footprint of aviation fuel throughout its entire life cycle, from production to combustion.
This initiative includes Boeing’s second ecoDemonstrator Explorer, a 737 MAX 10 aircraft set to be delivered to United Airlines. During the tests, this aircraft will fly with separate tanks of 100% SAF and conventional aviation fuel. NASA’s DC-8 aircraft, serving as an airborne laboratory, will follow behind and measure emissions produced by each fuel type. It will also collect condensation trail ice particles for analysis. Meanwhile, NASA satellites will capture images of contrail formation as part of these tests, with World Energy providing the SAF for the experiments.
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Researchers aim to comprehend how alternative fuels, combustor designs, and other technologies can mitigate the environmental impact of aviation. For instance, the tests will assess how SAF influences contrail characteristics. Although the full impact of contrails is not yet fully understood, some studies have suggested that certain contrails may trap heat in the atmosphere.
It’s worth noting that in 2020, the global response to the pandemic led to a nearly 70% reduction in worldwide air traffic compared to 2019. Several studies, which leveraged this variation to compare results, indicated that there was no «significant alteration in the diurnal surface air temperature range» due to contrails.
This project marks the culmination of a multi-year partnership between Boeing and NASA. SAF has the potential to reduce life cycle emissions by up to 85%, making it a key player in reducing aviation-related CO2 emissions over the next 30 years. It is seen as an interim solution until more radical technologies become technically feasible. SAF also boasts the added benefit of producing less soot, which can improve air quality around airports.
