The Wake Vortex Prediction and Monitoring System WSVBS - Part I: Design

Kurzfassung

The design of the Wake Vortex Prediction and Monitoring System WSVBS is described with all its components and their interaction. The WSVBS has been developed to tactically increase airport capacity for approach and landing on closely-spaced parallel runways. It is thought to dynamically adjust aircraft separations dependent on weather conditions and the resulting wake vortex behaviour without compromising safety. Dedicated meteorological instrumentation and short-term numerical terminal weather prediction provide the input to the prediction of wake-vortex behaviour and respective safety areas. The prediction tools employ a number of conservative aircraft parameter combinations that represent the aircraft weight categories medium and heavy. Predictions of the time when all approach corridors along the final approach do not overlap with safety areas determine aircraft separations for follower aircraft of categories medium and heavy. As a safety net a LIDAR monitors the correctness of WSVBS predictions in the most critical gates at low altitude.