Aircraft
Wake Vortex Reduction Trials Go Live at Vienna Airport
A new procedure using plate lines aims to mitigate wake vortices during landing approaches.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has started trial operations at Vienna International Airport of a process designed to reduce wake turbulence during final approach, and researchers describe first results as “very encouraging." The researchers are using a DLR-developed and patented configuration of parallel ground plates to dissipate the circulating vortices in front of a runway more quickly.  A laser-based measurement system (Lidar) records the behavior of wake vortices in detail for subsequent evaluation.