AIRCRAFT WAKE VORTEX PREDICTOR AND VISUALIZER

摘要

A method to predict a location, intensity and movement of wake vortexes,and to detect wake vortexes, comprises collecting one or more ground-basedmeasurements related to predicting the location, intensity and movement ofwakevortexes; collecting one or more airborne-based measurements related topredictingthe location, intensity and movement of wake vortexes; integrating the ground-basedand the airborne-based measurements to predict the location, intensity andmovement of wake vortexes using a wake vortex prediction model selected from aplurality of wake vortex prediction models based on a group of inputs orparametersincluding the ground-based and the airborne-based measurements; and detectingwake vortexes by use of tracer material or substance emitted by an aircraftgenerating the wake vortexes. The step of detecting the wake vortexescomprisesdirecting a tracer from a first aircraft into a vortical flow generated by thefirst aircraft,the tracer being visually indistinguishable from its surroundings to anunaidedobserver on the ground or in a following aircraft whilst the tracer is in thevorticalflow; detecting a characteristic corresponding to the presence of the visuallyindistinguishable tracer directed into the vortical flow; and based at leastin part onthe detected characteristic, directing the flight of the first aircraft, or asecond aircraftfollowing the first aircraft, or both.