European research on the atmospheric effects of aviation and the CORSAIRE project cluster

Research related to the atmospheric effects of aircraft emissions has become increasingly important during the last decade within the EC Environment research programmes and the national programmes by the Member States of the European Union. The aim is to assess the global effects on climate and the ozone layer resulting from the increasing air traffic. Currently, the EC research activities are supported by the ‘Global Change, Climate and Biodiversity’ Key Action of the Environment and Sustainable Development programme. Coordination of EC and nationally funded projects occurs through the CORSAIRE (Coordination of Research for the Study of Aircraft Impact on the Environment) cluster. The results of the projects involved in CORSAIRE contribute to aviation related atmospheric assessments and provide a solid scientific basis for any future policy or regulatory action. Finally, the perspective of the European research, which makes a major contribution to the worldwide efforts in this field, are described.