Meteorological influences on the design of advanced aircraft approach procedures for reduced environmental impacts

Abstract

There is increasing interest in the development of aircraft operating procedures that reduce the environmental impacts of commercial aviation through minimization of fuel burn, emissions and noise impacts. Meteorological factors can have a major influence on the behaviour of aircraft in different phases of flight, thus they must be carefully considered in the development of any new procedures. In this paper the most important of these factors are considered (wind profiles and local pressure variations) within the context of development of advanced approach procedures at a major UK airport. Models of the wind characteristics were developed for the region around the airport using data collected from the Natural Environment Research Council Mesosphere-Stratosphere-Troposphere Radar at Aberystwyth and surface wind measurements made at the airport, while an analysis of local pressure effects was based on readings taken at the airport. These models were used in a Monte Carlo flight simulator to determine the suitability of different approach procedure designs in terms of flight and environmental performance. Flight tests of the final procedure design were conducted at the airport with a variety of commercial aircraft. These demonstrated the suitability of the procedures (and hence validated the modelling strategies used) and that significant environmental benefits in terms of reduced noise, fuel burn and emissions were achieved compared to existing procedures. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society