United Airlines, Allied-Signal Aerospace and Coherent Technologies (CTI) have signed agreements to develop a turbulence sensor for use in commercial aircraft. Turbulence is the leading cause of injury in non-fatal airline accidents.
AlliedSignal has agreed to explore combining an enhanced version of its weather radar with CTI's infrared radar. The company is developing a radar capable of detecting turbulence in air with lower moisture content, while CTI's infrared radar is capable of detecting clear air turbulence.
AlliedSignal and CTI have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which is expected to lead to an agreement for joint development and marketing of an all-weather turbulence sensor.
United has signed a separate MoU with CTI to develop sensor and alerting requirements and crew procedures for using the new system.
Source: Flight International
