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Analysis of severe atmospheric disturbances from airline flight recordsAdvanced methods were developed to determine time varying winds and turbulence from digital flight data recorders carried aboard modern airliners. Analysis of several cases involving severe clear air turbulence encounters at cruise altitudes has shown that the aircraft encountered vortex arrays generated by destabilized wind shear layers above mountains or thunderstorms. A model was developed to identify the strength, size, and spacing of vortex arrays. This model is used to study the effects of severe wind hazards on operational safety for different types of aircraft. The study demonstrates that small remotely piloted vehicles and executive aircraft exhibit more violent behavior than do large airliners during encounters with high-altitude vortices. Analysis of digital flight data from the accident at Dallas/Ft. Worth in 1985 indicates that the aircraft encountered a microburst with rapidly changing winds embedded in a strong outflow near the ground. A multiple-vortex-ring model was developed to represent the microburst wind pattern. This model can be used in flight simulators to better understand the control problems in severe microburst encounters.
Document ID
19890016606
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Wingrove, R. C.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Bach, R. E., Jr.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Schultz, T. A.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
June 1, 1989
Subject Category
Air Transportation And Safety
Report/Patent Number
A-89111
NASA-TM-102186
NAS 1.15:102186
Meeting Information
Meeting: AGARD Flight Mechanics Panel Symposium-Flight in Adverse Environmental Conditions
Location: Gol
Country: Norway
Start Date: May 8, 1989
End Date: May 11, 1989
Accession Number
89N25977
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 505-66-41
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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