THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A REAL-TIME TURBULENCEAUTO-PIREP SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT

摘要

Pilots' real-time situational awareness of turbulence hazard severity and location is often hindered by the way in which turbulence is currently reported. The information is often made more confusing by the subjective, imprecise, and untimely way in which turbulence is currently assessed and reported (i.e., by means of pilot reports or PIREPS). Under the Turbulence Prediction and Warning System (TPAWS) element of NASA's Aviation Safety Program, AeroTech is developing a Turbulence Auto-Pirep System (TAPS) that will objectively measure the turbulence safety hazard to an aircraft (in situ), report this measurement and its location to other aircraft in the vicinity, and assimilate and present this data graphically to a pilot. This end-to-end system will provide pilots with improved tactical situational awareness of turbulence; thereby allowing the flight crew to avoid, escape, or prepare for encounters. By displaying to pilots real-time information on the location and severity of turbulence - scaled for their specific aircraft - this system advances the state of the art in the areas of enhanced situational awareness and improved aviation safety, as well as integrated flight deck information systems and procedures. The turbulence display will be fully integrated with other cockpit weather displays and avionics. This technology is currently being focused on Part 121 air transport aircraft, however it could be extended to general aviation. The goal of this paper is to describe the system's operation and intended function, as well as its expected interaction with other avionics systems both existing and under development. This paper is not intended to be a detailed description of the system, its theoretical background, or a presentation of test results.