Turbulence Brings a New NSF grant to Ophir!

January 11, 2006

Detection and measurement of turbulence ahead of an airborne vehicle is the subject of a new Ophir Corporation research study funded by a $99,000 National Science Foundation grant.  A sensor technology that can detect turbulent events well ahead of the aircraft will provide a significant cost and safety benefit to the commercial airline industry and its customers. 

 Turbulence is a leading cause of in-flight injuries, a major contributor to passengers' fear of flying, and is estimated to cost a single carrier over $100 million annually. In addition to improved passenger safety, a turbulence detection system could positively impact the commercial carriers by aiding turbulence avoidance and mitigation, thereby reducing fuel consumption.

Building on Ophir's expertise in atmospheric sensing technology, physicists will design an innovative, remote sensor using laser radar to “sample” the air beyond the aircraft's boundary layer (i.e. into the air undisturbed by the aircraft). This sensor is intended to provide airborne wind speed monitoring and turbulence detection in a small, highly efficient and rugged package.  The incoherent laser radar sensor will provide an additional air-sensing tool for the atmospheric research community and for the commercial aviation industry with three-dimensional wind profiles even in clear air conditions (without atmospheric aerosols).  The laser radar also has the ability of measuring the air temperature and pressure at regions near the aircraft.