The Effects of Low-Level Wind Shear on the Approach and Go-Around Performance of a Landing Jet Aircraft

The recent recognition of severe low-level wind shear (wind directional/velocity change with respect to distance and/or time) has engendered considerable discussion within the performance engineering and flight operations committee. Government-sponsored research has focused on piloting techniques to penetrate and, in instances of great variations in wind component over short periods or compressed boundaries, avoid air masses of different horizontal magnitudes. This paper outlines the development of an airborne system which evaluates the additional excess performance required to overcome the effects of both horizontal shear encounters and downdrafts. The data indicate that the early rapid detection of the sum of the two orthogonal vectors of a severe encounter will significantly improve the go-around profile and thus recovery opportunities.