Objective
WAKE VORTEX PROJECT OVERVIEW
With air traffic growing continuously, the capacity limitation of today s airspace and airports is increasingly concerning the aviation community. Both the airline industry and airport authorities are interested in methods to conduct air traffic in the most effective way without compromising safety.
The purpose of the Wake Vortex network is seen in:
- promoting a scientific understanding of wake vortices;
- gathering and exchanging information about wake-related technological developments;
- stimulating research and procedural activities directed toward reducing vortex hazards in the airport and en-route environments. The strategic intention of this network is to contribute to the enhancement of airspace and airport utilisation and the improvement of flight safety.
This is mainly achieved by striving for a clearer understanding of all aspects of aircraft-generated wake turbulence and its impact on air transport operation. To this effect, a Thematic Network Wake Vortex identifies, where the greatest know-how deficits exist within the context of wake vortices, and what could be the measures to fill the void. It is generally recognized, for example, that wake characterisation, atmospheric effects, wake detection and avoidance are areas of great concern.
EUROPEAN DIMENSION AND PARTNERSHIP The Wake Vortex Thematic Network provides a unique knowledge base available from combined efforts of distinguished institutions within Europe. The project demonstrates European expertise, and aid in obtaining technical excellence in the field of wake turbulence with respect to flight safety.
Added value will be created by a number of factors:
- Leading European experts, with a wide range of interest in aircraft wakes, will find a forum where they regularly meet to exchange views and ideas;
_ Participants of EC-funded projects get expert advice to their problems, find new applications of their requirement, provide expertise;
- Researchers will get on-line information from flight operation and rulemaking experts, to make their efforts more practice-oriented;
- Flight crews will learn about hazard-reducing efforts, difficulties of wake characterisation and progress to be expected in the near term;
- Industry will be provided first-hand technical information and learn about upcoming trends in rulemaking;
- Links between public and private funding channels on the one-hand, and research on the other, will be intensified through practice-oriented problem identification;
- Wake vortex state-of-the art will advance through available expert knowledge.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
While the manufacturer s intentions are primarily directed toward possible problems of future aircraft, the air transport community, on the other hand, must deal with wake vortex problems of today, in particular with the impact of wake vortices on current ATC practices and on runway capacity. Through the adoption of Wake Vortex Advisory Systems and Wake Vortex Warning Systems, airport congestion will be relieved and runway capacity increased. However, there is a need for further research to validate theoretical models of wake vortex behaviour and provide reliable, safe algorithms for use in such advisory systems. The Wake Vortex Thematic Network could be the ideal platform where such needs will find the greatest reservoir for solutions. This reservoir is composed of distinguished experts in their fields which make up the Network partnership.
Fields of science
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.