Flight Deck Displays for Managing Wind Shear Encounters

Two new concepts and three displays were designed and tested to provide an airplane pilot with current and predictive indications of wind shear encounter and response. Proof-of-concept instruments were constructed, test flown, and demonstrated to NASA test pilots. Rate of change of total energy is measured and compared to vertical speed, the difference being change of vertical speed if the shear continues. Flight path angles are presented on an Electronic Attitude Indicator. An airspeed instrument was designed with two needles, one showing speed and the other speed plus rate of change of speed. The needle separation is a measure of the wind shear rate. Separation of turbulence from shears is accomplished by filtering. The instrumentation system was flight tested in a twin engine aircraft. The concepts and implementation received favorable ratings from experimental test pilots.