Methodology for Aircraft Contrail Management

The proposed methodology involves employing advanced atmospheric modeling and analysis to forecast and reduce climate forcing caused by ice crystal hydrometeors in the clouds that aircraft make (called condensation trails or contrails). Project activities involve generating a baseline of contrail-generated surface warming from standard flight plans for comparison with contrail avoidance optimized flight plans generated by SATAVIA and flown by aircraft operators. The reduced climate forcing is converted into CO2-equivalent using the approach described by Teoh et al. (2020). The proposed methodology would require updates to the VCS Program rules.

• The proposal was submitted by SATAVIA under an older version of the the VCS Methodology Development and Review Process (MDRP) (PDF).
• In 2023, the proposal was put on hold due to limited scientific consensus and understanding of a suitable approach to convert non-CO₂ effects (contrail management) into CO2 effects and endorsement by key stakeholders.
• In March 2026, Verra reassessed the priority of methodologies under development and decided to keep this proposal on hold.
• Verra will reassess whether to resume the development of this methodology in Q3 2027.

Stakeholders interested in collaborating during methodology development or developing projects that this methodology might enable are encouraged to contact methodologies@verra.org. Please include the Methodology Development ID# CN0144 in the subject line.