Boeing Flight-Testing Tech to Detect Turbulence and Improve Safety

In collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Boeing  is flight-testing Long-range Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) on their ecoDemonstrator program. The remote-sensing technology could help commercial airplane pilots better detect and avoid weather disturbances to improve flight safety. Boeing is also working with FedEx Express to flight-test technologies including LIDAR, aboard a new FedEx-owned 777 Freighter.

Transcript

00:00:00 seen here on the outside of a Boeing triple7 this is a light detection and ranging system more commonly known as lidar it's a remote sensing technology used to measure distances and it's being tested on Boeing's eco demonstrator program in collaboration with the Japan aerospace exploration agency for JAXA Boeing is a very very big aircraft company so and also they have many many

00:00:26 experience for a fly test so that why we choose Boeing to conduct next level over flight tests together JAXA and Boeing are hoping to improve the flying experience specifically looking at ways to better detect turbulence the number one cause of human injuries on commercial airplanes as clear air turbulence so if you're looking for just one single thing to try and go and prove

00:00:51 as far as commercial airplane flight trying to reduce the number of accidents that happen as a result of clear air turbulence would be a really good thing - amen by integrating a lidar system pilots are able to detect clear air turbulence in advance and potentially avoided our ally the system has a important purpose it is to reduce the accident caused by a

00:01:15 turbulence so our system can detect the turbulence in front of the aircraft it can look ten miles ahead of the airplane which delivers about a 60 second warning as to what kind of clear air turbulence is coming your way light our technology as a whole isn't new but the use of light are on a commercial aircraft to detect clear air turbulence is something that hasn't been done before

00:01:39 later system fumble delay the system can detect a cloud with small water drops but cannot define the clear air turbulence so our system can detect that so that why it is a very important technology which can reduce the aircraft accidents testing the lidar systems is all about improving safety efficiency and advancing innovative technology benefiting both Boeing and Jack's

00:02:08 in the process