Oumarou Moussa Bola

PhD Thesis

Aircraft Trajectory Optimization and Sustainable Aviation Fuel for Climate Impact mitigation

Supervisors

Manuel Soler (UC3M)

Abstract

Sustainability has become one of the primary objectives for the aviation industry as it faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental footprint. With growing awareness of the broader climate impacts of aviation beyond CO₂ emissions, numerous studies have emerged that investigate the production and implications of non-CO₂ emissions, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and contrail formation. These studies are essential for the development of robust climate models that can accurately quantify the full environmental impact of air travel. However, despite progress in understanding these emissions, there remains a gap in applying these models to evaluate the economic and operational impacts on key industry players, particularly airlines. The aim of this research is to bridge that gap by utilizing advanced climate models to assess the economic and operational effects of climate-conscious decision-making on airlines. Specifically, this study seeks to develop a climate cost function, integrating environmental impact alongside traditional airline priorities such as operational cost, fuel consumption, and flight time. Novel techniques bridging optimal control and artificial intelligence will be used along with state of the art climate models.

Doctoral Meetings

2024 – 2025

Poster