Web Based Dashboard of Airplane Turbulence Mitigation

Abstract

Airplane accidents still occur frequently, one of which is caused by
turbulence. To minimize the risk, an effective forecasting system is
needed. This research focuses on developing a web-based dashboard
for aircraft turbulence mitigation by considering factors such as
convective cloud growth, Richardson number index, and wind shear.
The dashboard was developed through four steps: requirement
analysis, design, implementation, and verification. The Richardson
number index (Ri) is calculated using a formula involving
temperature and wind speed at different geopotential heights. Alert
status is determined based on Ri values and other parameters, with
three alert levels: 'Alert 1', 'Alert 2' and 'Alert 3'. The system
provides alerts based on user input. If the cloud cover is less than
50%, the “Alert 1” status is displayed; if Ri < 0.25, the “Alert 2”
status appears; and if the wind shear exceeds the threshold, the
“Alert 3” status indicates that flights are prohibited. Pilot tests show
that the system works well and the Ri calculation results are
comparable to existing Richardson calculators. The dashboard
allows users to access critical information related to turbulence and
flight status in real-time, thereby improving flight safety. Timely
alerts help in flight-related decision making. This research
successfully developed a web-based dashboard for aircraft
turbulence mitigation that works well. By monitoring convective
cloud growth, Richardson number index, and wind shear, the system
is able to provide relevant alerts to improve flight safety.