Planes could fly together in V-shaped flocks to save fuel and cut down on emissions amid growing 'flight shame' over their environmental impact

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 20:59 EST, 3 January 2020 | Jack Newman

[Olog-hai]

Planes could soon by flying in V-shape formations like migrating birds in a bid to save fuel and emissions.

Airbus says flight technology is now mature enough to use the formation which would allow aircraft to effectively ride on the coattails of each other.

The tactic is often seen in cycling, where racers “draft” behind leaders of the racing peloton, following in their slipstream.

Within six months, two A350 planes will make a long-haul formation flight to prove the so-called “wake energy retrieval” can be accomplished, according to The Times.

Then early in 2021, an airline will pair two jets, with the second flying nearly two miles from the first, on a transatlantic passenger route.

Within five years, airlines will be encouraged to use the formation in a bid to save up to 10 percent of fuel, lowering costs, as well as lowering carbon emissions. …

[minnesota_bound]

#27 that big red one in Texas. Is that a collision between the planes flying in a V formation?........

[SkyDancer]

Dunno - some of us are trying to figure it out. There’s another smaller one on there as well.

[SkyDancer]

It appears to be the Austin/San Antonio flight area - still checking my charts but don't see what that's about. It could have been a one time thing as it was a screen shot. This screen shot does not show it. This is a one hour grab shot of what's in the air at one time; and you thought your commute was bad?

[cornfedcowboy]

This formation might make sense in very long haul flights crossing the ocean but only marginally. Airlines would have already been doing this if it saved them much fuel.
Flight shaming is real.