Assessing the climate impact of formation flights
K. Dahlmann (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR))
Sigrun Matthes (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR))
H. Yamashita (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR))
S. Unterstrasser (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR))
V. Grewe (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), TU Delft - Aircraft Noise and Climate Effects)
Tobias Marks (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR))
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Abstract
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 location of emission it is necessary to assess its climate impact with a climate response model to assure a benefit for climate. Therefore, the climate response model AirClim was adopted to account for saturation effects occurring for formation flight. The results for case studies comprising typical air traffic scenario show that on average the fuel consumption can be decreased by 5%, the climate impact, however, can be reduced by up to 24%.