Monitoring of Aircraft Wake Vortices
Investigators: Prof. Stuart Bradley, Dr.
Sabine von Hünerbein
Collaborators: Prof.
Erich Mursch-Radlgruber, Dr Ken Underwood
Air circulating around aircraft wing tips causes a large and persistent area
of downwash of real danger to following aircraft and to built-up areas in the
vicinity of airports. This results in conservatively sparse aircraft scheduling
and uneconomically large gaps between aircraft at take-off and landing. In spite
of increasing urgency with introduction of larger aircraft such as the Airbus
A380, extensive EU and US programs (based on radar, laser, or massive microphone
configurations), have not overcome limitations of reliability, expense, complexity,
and intrusiveness.
Our concept is based on a well-established technology that reflects an acoustic
pulse off turbulence and uses the echo to measure vertical wind speeds (SODAR).
An interlinked line of these devices is deployed and will be enhanced with superior
acoustic and electronic design to allow rapid imaging output. First measurements
have been conducted at Vienna International Airport proving the viability vortex
detection and monitoring with high resolution SODAR data. Currently, measurements
at Auckland Airport are being prepared with the ultimate aim of using this technology
to provide a vortex climatology for development of robust predictive computer
airflow models and for a hazard prediction protocol.
Publications
Bradley, SG, von Hünerbein, S, Underwood, K (2006) OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY AND ACCURACY OF SODARS IN WING VORTEX CHARACTERIZATION, 12th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology, Atlanta, Jan 2006
Bradley, S. G., E. Mursch-Radlgruber and S. von Hünerbein. SODAR Measurements
of Wing Vortex Strength and Position. J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech. (2007), 24(2):141
- 155
For further information please contact Sabine von Hünerbein