Improved Methods of Atmospheric Turbulence Prediction for Aircraft Design and Operation J

Abstract

New atmospheric turbulence prediction techniques have been developed to define the existence and magnitude of turbulence. These empirical methods were developed from the vast amount of recorded atmospheric turbulence data in several forms. Early data from aircraft response to turbulence was collected, primarily by NACA, with recorders on board civil transport aircraft. Recently, the gust probe method has been used in several programs to define atmospheric turbulence magnitudes under a variety of conditions. These atmospheric turbulence environment data, used in empirical prediction techniques, provide potential improvement in gust design criteria and in avoidance planning of high-risk flight regions. Nomenclature A = gust response factor, <JY/VGW AA = average terrain route altitude, ft a — inverse slope parameters for response distribution, 0.791 ay b ~ inverse slope parameters for gust distributions (derived equivalent or true gust velocity peaks), 0.791 cr C = gust response parameter, &nz/Ude, #/fps e =2.718 FA = airplane flight altitude, ft