The DLR Project Land-Based and Onboard Wake Systems - L-bows

Abstract

In order to plan and control air traffic effectively and safely the correct prediction of wake vortex descent, lateral drift and decay as well as the resulting minimum separations between aircraft have become increasingly important in the vicinity of airports as well as in cruise. The DLR project Land-Based and Onboard Wake Systems (L-bows) aimed at the ground-based prediction of optimized wake vortex separation distances and the airborne avoidance of hazardous wake encounters in all flight phases. Innovative methods have been developed to increase the efficiency of prediction systems in order to significantly increase their economic benefits. The project addressed the initiative of ICAO, FAA, and EUROCONTROL for the recategorisation of wake vortex related aircraft separation distances, the expected capacity gaps of the runways of the major European airports, the reduced vertical separation minima in cruise flight, the growing diversification of aircraft types from very light jets to super heavy aircraft as well as the target in SESAR and NextGen of further liberalisation of airspace.