The DTN LiWAS (LiDAR Windshear Alerting System) is a state-of-the-art solution to track headwind/tailwind changes in those airports concerned about windshear events. It may work either by enhancing existing LLWAS or as stand-alone, and it features a flexible scanning strategy, easy implementation and full integration with the rest of the weather systems.
DTN provides several aeronautical meteorology systems including LiDAR Windshear Alerting Systems (LiWAS). This is the result of years of research and a detailed testing campaign of cutting-edge technology in adverse climatological conditions, leading to a system that presents excellent results working either with an existing LLWAS or as stand-alone.
Moreover, DTN features a Windshear Alert System Integration Algorithm to merge the aforementioned two systems, so that users can work with a unique combined output.
A key differentiator of the DTN LiWAS is its ability to alert personnel of windshear events not only close to the runway threshold but along the glide path (GP). While other remote sensing systems measure at a fixed elevation, the LiWAS divides the GP in different sections and sends a laser beam to each of them in order to measure the wind speed component in the exact gate that the aircraft will go through. As a result, the detection is closer to what the pilot would report. Depending on the configuration of the physical runways, it may be recommended the installation of one or various LiDAR devices to achieve the best measurement accuracy and coverage area.
The LiWAS System is part of DTN MetConsole Aviation Weather Suite, a comprehensive and state-of-art solution that provides aviation customers with real-time weather information needed for their daily operations. Through MetConsole, the LiWAS reaches its full capabilities to: display up-to-date detailed information, generate visual and audible alerts, automatically integrate alarms with LLWAS networks, and save results to a historical database.
Air traffic controllers can benefit from LiWAS and MetConsole features to support quick and accurate decision-making, increasing safety in the most critical operations and extending the range of other detection systems.
High spatial resolution
With a range resolution of about 100m, LiWAS is able to resolve windshear, which has an internationally recognized length scale of between 400m and 4km.
Scanning flexibility
Compared to conventional weather radars, a LiDAR has a smaller scanner, which allows more flexibility in designing the scan strategy. It allows precise depiction of the flow in terrain-induced disturbances, particularly along the GPs, to achieve an aircraft’s point-of-view.
Mid-range coverage
Up to 10km in case of enough presence of aerosols in the airport area, to cover the last nautical miles in approach and departure.
Ease of deployment
The LiDAR system is a compact instrument that can be housed in a rectangular fibre-glass equipment shelter with a length of 2-3m on each side. The compact dimensions of the instrument ensure that the installation can be done very close to the runway while being fully compliant with the obstacle limitation surfaces. Moreover, a LiDAR is not an active source of electromagnetic radiation, it is eye-safe and little or no maintenance is required.
Measurement capability
Measurements can be done in any elevation and azimuth angles. It allows the detection of not only horizontal windshear, but also events that have a vertical evolution such as inversions and low-level jet streams.
Affordable investment
It is much simpler to deploy a LiDAR than a C-band TDWR featuring a 8m radius antenna dish. What’s more, its mid-range coverage replaces the need for a large anemometer network, avoiding the cost of installing additional wind stations for LLWAS systems, which are usually placed outside the bounds of the airport
Full integration
LiWAS was initially conceived as an enhancement to LLWAS networks, and as such can be combined with other DTN Weather Systems to maximise performance and reliability.
DTN has been in the weather systems business for more than 35 years, providing high-value products that comply with the most rigorous standards of its customers. In particular, DTN’s Aviation Weather Solutions have been installed and integrated in more than 250 airports worldwide.
Get to know LiWAS and the rest of DTN Weather Solutions at www.dtn.com or contact us at +1 800 509 8927.
