Cross-polar aircraft trajectory optimization and the potential climate impact

• Developed a model to calculate trajectories for cross-polar aircraft that avoid regions of airspace that facilitate persistent contrails formation while minimizing Global Warming Potential • For 15 Origin-Destination pairs during the days with medium and high contrail formation in 2010 — Wind Optimal trajectories reduce average fuel burn and Global Warming Potential by 8.0% and 4.4% — One percent increase in additional GWP, equivalent to 4070kg and 4220kg of CO2 emissions, reduces 135 and 105 minutes persistent contrail formation per flight