Paris Charles De Gaulle to Use Lockheed Martin's Wake Vortex Tracking

Eurocontrol has purchased a Lockheed Martin wake vortex tracking system that will be installed at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) near Paris.

The WindTracer system, developed by Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies, will be used at CDG to monitor its closely-spaced parallel runways (CSPR) and collect data on wake vortices created by landing aircraft under various wind and weather conditions.  The data will be used by the French Air Traffic Control Authority (DGAC) to help it determine if, and when, departing aircraft can be safely cleared for takeoff at a faster rate.

Eurocontrol plans to use WindTracer to mitigate the adverse operational effects of wake vortices at several major airports.  Dr. Stephen Hannon, who directs the Products Group for Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies, said that this program, like the related lidar (laser imaging detection and ranging) wake measurements underway at Frankfurt, provides another opportunity to leverage the mutual activities of Eurocontrol, FAA and NASA.

Lockheed Martin says WindTracer has been used by the FAA since 2001 to conduct wake vortex detection and tracking evaluations to help it determine the feasibility of making changes in flight rules as they pertain to vortices on parallel runway operations.  The systems also are performing aircraft wake-related functions at San Francisco, Houston's Bush Intercontinental and St. Louis.  02-16-2007.

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