Sydney Airport rolls out new windshear detection system

Sydney Airport has installed a new Light Detection and Ranging System (LIDAR) to help manage the risks of windshear during take-off and landing. As part of the Low-Level Windshear Alert System (LLWAS), the technology is designed to let pilots and airport staff know of dangerous low-level wind conditions. The system updates every 10 seconds, transmitting windshear alerts to the airport’s air traffic control tower. According to Sydney Airport chief operations officer Adrian Witherow, Sydney Airport is looking to focus on safety as it anticipates hitting 2b passengers by 2040. As the airport expands to meet growing demand, investing in advanced technologies reflects our commitment to safety and operational efficiency with timely information to support optimised runway configuration,” he said. “This new technology is a game-changer for Sydney Airport significantly increasing our ability to proactively detect and respond to sudden changes in wind patterns near the runway and alert pilots in the vicinity. We are extremely proud to be the first in Australia to implement this technology, and we’re looking forward to bringing it online and seeing it in action.” The news comes amid recent weather troubles at the airport, which again experienced heavy delays on Monday as high winds of up to 120km/h hit the east coast, forcing the closure of two runways and the cancellation of more than 60 domestic flights.<br/>