Airbus to test flying planes closer together to cut carbon emissions

By Adam Vaughan

Victor Korchenko/Alamy

The aviation industry is planning to test whether mimicking the way birds fly in formation can significantly reduce fuel use, in an effort to cut emissions.

Plane manufacture Airbus will run two demonstrator flights in the first half of next year. The idea, inspired by the v-formation geese migrate in, is for one plane to take off soon after another, following closely and precisely enough to take advantage of the air vortex produced in the first plane’s wake. It could cut fuel by 5-10 per cent per trip, says Airbus. …