Thales Wake Vortex solutions: Making air traffic safer

Wake-vortex phenomena are dangerous during take-off and landing phases, forcing air traffic controllers to reduce the flow of aircraft. The wake-vortex radar/lidar sensing technology developed by Thales is a way to improve detection and better assess the consequences of the phenomena, thus making air traffic management more precise.

Air Traffic booming by 2020 is forecasted by all stakeholders & Major Airports will approach their ultimate Capacity with increasing delays. Wake vortices are the principle limiting factor in regards to runway capacity.

A wake vortex is a turbulence generated by the passage of another aircraft. It can be seen sometimes through clouds like two curls behind the aircraft. They can cause severe incidents and accidents when planes are at low altitude during touchdown.

Wake vortex strength and duration depends on:

• Aircraft type
• Weather conditions

Thales’s innovative approach allows:

• Maximized capacity: increasing the number of slots
• Minimized delays: optimizing arrival / departure sequences
• Maintaining a high level of safety

This video explains it all...