Revolutionary Wake Hazard Assessment Tool

Continuum Dynamics, Inc. (CDI) has developed a Multiple Aircraft Simulation Tool (MAST) that revolutionizes the ability to predict and assess wake interactions associated with multiple aircraft operating in the vicinity of one another. This tool incorporates CDI's state-of-the-art free-vortex wake modeling methods and aircraft wake diffusion and dissipation models within established flight simulation technology. This new technology is ideally suited to support the U.S. air traffic management system in evaluating methods to safely improve operational efficiency. The proposed effort is to enhance and repackage this technology in a manner targeted directly toward modeling "series" and "parallel" fixed (and rotary) wing aircraft approach patterns. The large body of recent data obtained from field tests and advanced CFD will be utilized to provide a new level of accuracy and efficiency in the prediction of the influence of turbulence, wind shear, stratification and ground effect on vortex wake evolution and decay. The final tool will be unprecedented in its range of application, accuracy and ease of use in modeling the wake interactions of multiple fixed wing and rotary-wing aircraft operating in a terminal area environment and will be ideal for planning and evaluating NASA's multiple corridor and simultaneous non-interference operational concepts.