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Short-term prediction of the horizontal wind vector within a wake vortex warning system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 March 2002

Michael Frech ,
Frank Holzäpfel ,
Thomas Gerz  and
Jens Konopka
Michael Frech
Affiliation:
Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, DLR Oberpfaffenhofen, D-82234 Wessling, Germany
Frank Holzäpfel
Affiliation:
Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, DLR Oberpfaffenhofen, D-82234 Wessling, Germany
Thomas Gerz
Affiliation:
Institut für Physik der Atmosphäre, DLR Oberpfaffenhofen, D-82234 Wessling, Germany
Jens Konopka
Affiliation:
Research and Development, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, D-63225 Langen, Germany
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Abstract

A wake vortex warning system (WVWS) has been developed for Frankfurt Airport. This airport has two parallel runways which are separated by 518 m, a distance too short to operate them independently because wake vortices may be advected to the adjacent runway. The objective of the WVWS is to enable operation with reduced separation between two aircraft approaching the parallel runways during appropriate wind conditions. The WVWS applies a statistical persistence model to predict the crosswind within a 20-minute period. One of the main problems identified in the old WVWS is discontinuity between successive forecasts. These forecast breakdowns were not acceptable to air traffic controllers. At least part of the problem was related to the fact that the forecast was solely based on the prediction of crosswind. A new method is developed on the basis of 523 days of sonic anemometer measurements at Frankfurt Airport. It is demonstrated that the prediction of the horizontal wind vector avoids these difficulties and significantly improves the system's performance.

Type
Research Article
Information
Meteorological Applications , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , March 2002 , pp. 9 - 20
Copyright
© 2002 Royal Meteorological Society

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