SATAVIA developed a tech platform that integrates weather prediction modeling, earth observation data from satellites, and global asset tracking to provide atmospheric data that airlines can use to avoid creating warming contrails.
SATAVIA’s weather prediction model allows airlines to attempt to set their flight schedules up to one year in advance to choose routes and flight times that maximize the potential to avoid contrails. Then, on the day of the flight, they provide the airline with a flight plan for each flight with takeoff and landing times, and an efficient route with a list of waypoints and levels that the aircraft may fly. This plan accounts for weather on the route, other air traffic, hazards, and the applicable daily rules for aircraft management.
The first commercial flight utilizing SATAVIA’s technology took off in October 2021 and was operated by United Arab Emirates carrier Etihad as part of a program called Greenliner, a testbed for sustainability projects. Since then, Etihad and SATAVIA have completed dozens of flights. SATAVIA also conducted another trial with Dutch airline KLM. These projects show the great progress that SATAVIA and its partner airlines are making towards eliminating contrails.