Australian company Swan International aims to conduct flight tests of a laser-based wind-shear detection system being developed for business and general aviation aircraft in the next six months.
Unlike traditional wind-shear detection technology, which is weather radar-based, Swan's system uses an eye-safe laser, which has a lower power requirement, gives a clear response and results in smaller and lower cost systems more suitable for business and general aviation aircraft.
The Sydney-based company has been granted US patent approval for the concept and the directional technologies. Swan International also has proprietary design and patent applications with regards to high-powered, eye-safe pulse lasers. The system operates in the eye-safe 1.5-1.8mm band.
A novel use is also made of global positioning system and ground speed determination and of a fibre-optic-based demodulator for determining the frequency shift in the detected beam, says Brian McGuire, chief executive officer.
Swan received Australian government funding for the programme in 2003 and since then the company has been working with Sydney's Macquarie University and the University of New South Wales on the technology and its testing. A ground-based concept system has been undergoing tests since late 2003.
Swan has received Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority approval for the tests.
EMMA KELLY / PERTH
Source: Flight International
