In-Flight Wake Encounter Prediction with the Wake Encounter Avoidance and Advisory System

Abstract

DLR is working on a Wake Encounter Advisory & Avoidance (WEAA) system to facilitate pilots’ awareness of the wake vortex situation. The system identifies impending wake conflicts and allows the pilots to avoid potentially dangerous wake vortex encounters by a tactical evasion manoeuvre. Apart from further increasing current safety levels, a future application is seen in maintaining safety with reduced or modified separation standards. The presentation briefly describes DLR's technical solutions for the core functions of the WEAA system (meteorological data fusion, wake vortex prediction, trajectory prediction and conflict detection, hazard evaluation, avoidance trajectory generation, alerting and guidance), the implementation of which is on-going. Emphasis of the talk is on the description of the two flight test campaigns employing DLR's Falcon and A320 ATRA aircraft to demonstrate the feasibility of concept. Flight test results will be shown that demonstrate the functionality and accuracy of prediction of both wake vortex evolution and wake conflicts under operational conditions.