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An airborne windshear detection system

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

D. McLean  and
Z. Zouaoui
D. McLean
Affiliation:
Department of Aeronautics and AstronauticsUniversity of Southampton Southampton, UK
Z. Zouaoui
Affiliation:
Department of Aeronautics and AstronauticsUniversity of Southampton Southampton, UK
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Abstract

For a long time there has been growing awareness in the international aviation community of the considerable danger which an encounter with the atmospheric phenomenon of windshear can bring to an aircraft in flight. Considerable statistical evidence is now available which points to the fact that aircraft windshear encounters in initial climb, final approach, or landing are extremely hazardous, often leading to fatal accidents. The paper presents details of a preliminary design for an airborne windshear detection system suitable for use in general aviation aircraft. First, an elementary explanation of windshear, and its most dangerous form, the microburst, is given, together with a short account of the hazards that such atmospheric phenomena can present to aircraft in flight, particularly at takeoff and landing. Then a novel windshear detection algorithm is described and associated simulation results are presented. The algorithm is based upon observer theory and uses only a restricted number of measurements. The system is shown to provide very good estimates of the horizontal and vertical components of some windshear encounters. These estimates of the windshear components are then used to provide the pilot with a warning of the presence of windshear together with an indication of its severity. Digital simulation has been used to show the effectiveness of the proposed design.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 101 , Issue 1010 , December 1997 , pp. 447 - 456
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1997 

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