A Methodology to Assess the Cost-Benefit Potentials of Climate Optimal Trajectoires

Abstract

Impacts of commercial aircraft operation upon the environment, which are caused primarily from emissions of carbon-dioxide, nitrogen-oxides and the formation of contrails, are matter of growing concern, as aviation is one of the fastest growing industrial sectors worldwide and the awareness of its effects is expending. To reduce the impact of air traffic emissions on global warming, different technological, operational as well as regulative approaches are conceivable. Two of the most promising mitigation strategies are tactical and strategic concepts of air traffic operations, which optimise flight trajectories with respect to climate and economy. Here we present a methodology to assess and to compare the cost-benefit potential of both of them, including aircraft and engine design, route planning, calculation of emissions, climate temperature response and operating costs, as well as ATM compatibility checks. As the introduction of new strategies may impact the air transport system as a whole and provoke benefits and drawbacks in different fields, the assessment is based on a holistic systems design approach, including systems analysis and concept design.