Autonomous UV-Enhanced Vision System for Landing on CAT I Runways during CAT IIIa Weather Conditions

摘要

Airport traffic delays continue to increase, without any relief in sight. A major contributing factor is the lack of low visibility capability for both aircraft landing and movement about an airport surface. Only 39 runways in the USA can operate under CAT III (700 ft. Visibility to land) conditions, and just 19 additional runways are in the planning stage. Each will cost dollar 1 billion and take about ten years to place in operation. Ultraviolet (UV) technology may offer a solution. Runways that would normally decrease their traffic throughput, or close, as visibility degrades, can maintain their visual tempo and safety norms through the application of UV fog penetration techniques. These techniques can be applied on a selective and incremental basis such that some relief can be expected within two years and major decreases in delays can be realized a year thereafter.