Lockheed Martin WindTracer System installed at major airports in Germany

DENVER - German Weather Service (DWD) has installed Lockheed Martin WindTracer Doppler lidar systems at the Frankfurt and Munich airports as part of the Low Level Wind Shear Alert System (LLWAS). Selex Systems Integration provided the LLWAS, which includes WindTracer lidar and weather radar.

By adding WindTracer lidar at the two largest airports in Germany, DWD takes a leading role in Europe, following International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Recommendation to provide concise information on wind shear which could adversely affect aircraft on the approach or take-off path.

WindTracer monitors atmospheric conditions and measures wind speed and direction along airport flight paths. It complements radar by excelling in dry and clear weather conditions. By using WindTracer, Selex has developed Europe's first radar and lidar operational integration for wind shear detection in all weather conditions.

WindTracer has been used worldwide for more than a decade to detect hazardous winds and aircraft wakes, providing improved safety for more than one million flights. The system successfully operates at airports in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, London, New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas.

In Europe, Frankfurt is the third busiest airport, having handled 57.5 million passengers in 2012, according to Airports Council International, and Munich is the seventh busiest, accommodating over 38 million passengers in 2012.

"WindTracer represents an affordable wind shear detection system for customers around the globe. Combined with weather radar, the system gives the airport a comprehensive picture of wind hazards," said Dr. Michael Margulis, director of WindTracer Programs at Lockheed Martin. "As a result, the highest detection rate for wind hazards, in both dry and wet environments, is achieved."

WindTracer operates by transmitting pulses of eye-safe infrared laser light that reflect off naturally occurring aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Wind moves these particles, which alters the frequency of the light that is scattered back to the system. WindTracer processes the return signal and automatically detects hazardous winds to ensure operational safety during high-impact weather.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 116,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2012 were $47.2 billion.