Lockheed Martin announces that EUROCONTROL has purchased a WindTracer(R) Doppler lidar system that will be installed at the Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) near Paris, France.

The WindTracer will monitor the closely-spaced parallel runways (CSPR) and collect data on wake vortices created by landing aircraft under various wind and weather conditions. The data will help the French Air Traffic Control Authority (DGAC) determine if, and when, departing aircraft can be safely cleared for takeoff at a faster rate. CDG is one of Europe's principal aviation centers, ranking first in Europe in terms of plane movements.

"We are quite pleased that WindTracer has been chosen by EUROCONTROL as the primary tool for measuring wake vortices at European airports," said Dr. Stephen Hannon, Products Group director for Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies. "The Charles de Gaulle CSPR program, like the related lidar wake measurements underway at Frankfurt International Airport, provides another opportunity for mutual leverage between the EUROCONTROL and Federal Aviation Administration /NASA programs."

EUROCONTROL plans to use the WindTracer to support development of wake vortex mitigation at several major airports. "WindTracer has an established record of wake vortex data collection and will assist EUROCONTROL's support of CDG CSPR improvements as well as benefiting other major European airports in the future," said Andrew Harvey, wake vortex project manager of EUROCONTROL.

EUROCONTROL is the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation. Its primary objective is the development of a seamless, pan-European Air Traffic Management system. Headquartered in Brussels, EUROCONTROL currently has 37 member states.

WindTracer has been used by the Federal Aviation Administration since 2001 to conduct wake vortex detection and tracking for consideration of future Flight Rule changes. Systems are also performing wakes-related functions at San Francisco International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston and St. Louis International Airport.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2006 sales of $39.6 billion.

    Media Contact: Gary Napier, (303) 971-4012; gary.p.napier@lmco.com

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin