Europe's CREDOS to Evaluate Lockheed Martin Wake Detection System

The European Commission's CREDOS (crosswind reduced separations for departure operations) will collect data on the wake vortices of departing aircraft to determine the potential benefits of a detection system developed by Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies.

The FAA loaned the system, dubbed WindTracer, to CREDOS so it can collect wind and wake vortex research data at Frankfurt to support the case for using its technology to safely reduce the minimum separation criteria for departing traffic under certain crosswind conditions.  Andrew Harvey, the project coordinator said the system should be able to predict vortices' movement and persistence.

WindTracer is a pulsed Doppler lidar (laser imaging detection and ranging) system, which unlike traditional Doppler radar, detects wind hazards without relying on precipitation.

Wake data will be collected in an unattended mode at Frankfurt for approximately six months.  In addition, the system will provide new high-resolution crosswind profiles.

More information on CREDOS is available here.  02-14-2007.

Click here to become a registered Flt Tech Online subscriber and receive headlines delivered to your e-mail each week

Click here to go back to the headlines