PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF THE LAUFER WIND AIRCRAFT DETECTION SYSTEM AS AN AIRCRAFT DETECTION LIGHTING SYSTEM

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Safety Research and Development (R&D) Section conducted a performance assessment of the Laufer X-band Wind Aircraft Detection System (ADS). The purpose of this assessment was to determine if the Laufer Wind ADS meets the aircraft detection lighting system (ADLS) requirements specified in Chapter 14 of FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 70/7460-1L, “Obstruction Marking and Lighting.”

The Airport Safety R&D Section evaluated the Laufer Wind ADS at the U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewal Energy Laboratory, National Wind Technology Center near Boulder, Colorado. The performance assessment, consisting of demonstrations, flight tests, and data analysis, began in June 2014 and concluded in November 2014. In this performance assessment, a series of flight patterns were flown against the Laufer Wind ADS to demonstrate whether it could meet the FAA performance requirements specified in AC 70/7460-1L. The Laufer Wind ADS performed according to the manufacturer’s specifications and met the performance requirements identified in AC 70/7460-1L.

In addition, the data collected during the performance assessment confirmed that the performance requirements specified in AC 70/7460-1L remain valid and provide for a technology that offers a satisfactory level of safety for the flying public. At the same time, this technology reduces the impact of obstruction lights on nearby communities and migratory bird populations.

DOT/FAA/TC-TN15/54
Author: James Patterson, Jr.