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Consultant to the Flyland project

USE2ACES was consulted to review operational aspects of the air transport operations at a location in the North Sea. The wind climate at sea can be more severe than on land. With a set of parallel runways this would lead to non availability of the airport due to the crosswind value during periods in a couple of days per year. This is unacceptable for a main airport.

Wind screens next to runways presumably reduce the crosswind. Important benefits of wind screens for an airport island in the North Sea may be less crosswind and hopefully less gusting during the critical phases of take-off and landing.

The possibility of constructing runways parallel to the coast looks attractive because the island can be constructed fairly close to the coast (cost reduction!). Another advantage is that the need to fly over the mainland can be avoided. This will result in fewer operational restrictions for the use of the airport around the clock. However, clarity on the question of whether wind screens are really practicable still requires a great deal of research.

The first step was a preliminary study of the effect on flying capability (controllability, safety) of aircraft landing and taking off under the influence of wind screens alongside the runway, and the perception of pilots regarding this subject. The research consisted of moving-base simulations of take-offs and landings. The turbulence and windshear resulting from these proposed windscreens were a major concern to the project group.

USE2ACES actively participated in the project definition and the test plan development to investigate landing characteristics in extreme cross wind conditions with and without the windscreen for this location.


Home About us What we do Who we are Client service Your practice Our role Contact Address E-mail	Home » Our role » Consultant to the Flyland project (case) Consultant to the Flyland project USE2ACES was consulted to review operational aspects of the air transport operations at a location in the North Sea. The wind climate at sea can be more severe than on land. With a set of parallel runways this would lead to non availability of the airport due to the crosswind value during periods in a couple of days per year. This is unacceptable for a main airport. Wind screens next to runways presumably reduce the crosswind. Important benefits of wind screens for an airport island in the North Sea may be less crosswind and hopefully less gusting during the critical phases of take-off and landing. The possibility of constructing runways parallel to the coast looks attractive because the island can be constructed fairly close to the coast (cost reduction!). Another advantage is that the need to fly over the mainland can be avoided. This will result in fewer operational restrictions for the use of the airport around the clock. However, clarity on the question of whether wind screens are really practicable still requires a great deal of research. The first step was a preliminary study of the effect on flying capability (controllability, safety) of aircraft landing and taking off under the influence of wind screens alongside the runway, and the perception of pilots regarding this subject. The research consisted of moving-base simulations of take-offs and landings. The turbulence and windshear resulting from these proposed windscreens were a major concern to the project group. USE2ACES actively participated in the project definition and the test plan development to investigate landing characteristics in extreme cross wind conditions with and without the windscreen for this location.