CORRELATION BETWEEN CLEAR-AIR TURBULENCE AND AIRCRAFT ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY

The results of a cooperative effort by Stanford Research Institute, United Air Lines, and Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories to determine the correlation between regions of clear-air turbulence (CAT) and aircraft electrical activity are described. Corona discharges from precipitation static d...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nanevicz,Joseph E, Vance,Edward F, Serebreny,Sidney M
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
AIRCRAFT
Atmospheric Physics
CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE
ELECTRICAL CORONA
FLIGHT PATHS
STATIC DISCHARGERS
STATIC ELECTRICITY
STATICS
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The results of a cooperative effort by Stanford Research Institute, United Air Lines, and Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories to determine the correlation between regions of clear-air turbulence (CAT) and aircraft electrical activity are described. Corona discharges from precipitation static dischargers on DC-8 aircraft were monitored and correlated with CAT encounters. A significant correlation was found to exist between CAT encounters and periods of electrical discharge. It is suggested that these electrical discharges may be caused by electric fields in the region of clear-air turbulence, particulate matter in the region that charges the aircraft, or a combination of both. A meteorological analysis was made of the regions where turbulence associated with electrical activity was observed. This analysis indicated that the CAT incidents were associated with jet streams. (Author)