Can planes damage the ozone layer? So I heard that the Ozone Layer is a layer of gas in Earth's atmosphere. And I also heard once that the Ozone Layer is crucial in protecting life on Earth, as it blocks out harmful rays emitted by the Sun. But over the years, the Ozone layer is slowly degrading due to the constant emission of chemicals. That's straight forward stuff...

But I once heard that super sonic jets can also contribute to the degradation of the Ozone Layer. What!? I didn't know jets could do that! This is what I would like to know:


Is this claim true?
And if it is, how high up and fast do the jets have to be?
Also, how is this even possible?


Does the jet create strong winds to blow the Ozone Layer away or something? Any feedback would be highly appreciated, thanks!
Yes, high flying jets can damage the ozone layer, but the consensus of opinion is that at present this damage is trivial and nothing to worry about. If, on the other hand, Concorde-type supersonic transports were to become commonplace, it might be another matter. It was found that Concorde's engines produced much more sulphuric acid particles than the exhausts of subsonic aircraft, and it was this sulphuric acid that damaged the ozone layer. Whether or not enough supersonic military aircraft fly at the relevant altitude and cause significant damage is something nobody seems to know, but probably not. The jets need to fly at altitudes between about 30,000 feet and 45,000 feet to cause ozone damage.