Climate impact mitigation potential of formation flight

The aerodynamic formation flight, which is also known as aircraft wake-surfing for efficiency (AWSE), enables aircraft to harvest the energy inherent in another aircraft’s wake vortex. As the thrust of the trailing aircraft can be reduced during cruise flight, the resulting benefit can be traded for longer flight time, larger range, less fuel...

Assessing the climate impact of formation flights

An operational measure to aim for mitigation of aviation climate impact that is inspired by migrant birds is to fly in aerodynamic formation. This operational measure adapted to human aircraft would eventually save fuel and is, therefore, expected to reduce the climate impact of aviation. As this method changes beside the total emission also the...

Assessing the climate impact of formation flights

An operational measure that is inspired by migrant birds aiming toward the mitigation of aviation climate impact is to fly in aerodynamic formation. When this operational measure is adapted to commercial aircraft it saves fuel and is, therefore, expected to reduce the climate impact of aviation. Besides the total emission amount, this...