The JAWS project was conceived in 1997 in response to severe turbulence incidents involving passenger carrying aircraft departing the Juneau International Airport. Air flow patterns resulting from two major wind regimes common to Juneau create terrain induced turbulence that is repeatable given similar circumstances. This is the key to success of algorithms designed to alert pilots to turbulence. Research aircraft were used to collect turbulence data, and these data were correlated with wind information collected during the same periods. Combinations of data were iterated multiple times to come up with a set of equations that can be used to estimate turbulence in near real time. Fallback equations are used in the event of one or multiple sensor failures, such that the system will still provide reliable turbulence information.

Primary Contacts

• YATES, Al: | PROJECT MANAGER I | ph: 8451 | email: ayates