Smoother Summer Air Traffic with Superior Windshear Detection Technology: Why WindCube Scan stands alone

With the busy summer holiday season well under way, airports worldwide are facing a significant increase in flights and air traffic.

Ensuring the safety and efficiency of airport operations during this peak period is paramount, and one critical aspect of this is the detection of windshear. Advanced technology is essential to accurately monitor wind conditions and provide timely warnings to pilots. The Vaisala WindCube® Scan Airport Edition wind lidar stands out as a superior choice for several compelling reasons.

WindCube is the gold standard in wind lidar, trusted for decades in several industries such as aviation, wind energy and meteorology. The lidar is trusted for its accuracy, reliability and cost-effectiveness as well as integration, and Vaisala provides exceptional global customer service.

Exceptional range and accuracy

WindCube Scan Airport Edition boasts an operational range of over 10 km and maximum acquisition range over 18 km — more than sufficient to cover the ICAO-required measurement volumes — ensuring comprehensive monitoring of windshear conditions. The device also features a radial wind speed accuracy of 0.10 meters per second and a scanner pointing accuracy of 0.10 degrees.

These precision metrics are critical for delivering reliable data to airport operations teams and pilots, enhancing overall safety.

Cost effectiveness and efficiency

WindCube Scan Airport Edition has a capital expenditure (CAPEX) which is a fraction of other high-end options, with notably lower operational expenditure (OPEX), making it highly cost-effective — all with uncompromising performance.

The cost advantage allows airports to potentially deploy multiple units for the price of a single competitor device, ensuring more comprehensive coverage and redundancy, in line with ICAO regulations.

Integrated system for seamless operation

The scanning lidar is designed to integrate seamlessly with the Vaisala AviMet® AWOS, which automates the reporting of all weather conditions, while the AviMet Windshear Alert System detects and delivers timely alerts of windshear and wind hazards at the airport and within the TMA. This integration is crucial for airports as it ensures that all weather-related data is centralized, easily accessible, and reliably transmitted to relevant stakeholders.

As the only company developing, manufacturing, and delivering all three windshear measurement technologies – LLWAS, weather radar and scanning wind lidar – Vaisala’s full-system approach enhances operational efficiency and ensures that the windshear detection system works harmoniously with other airport systems.

Low maintenance, high reliability

WindCube Scan Airport Edition features fibered laser technology that contribute to its low maintenance needs and minimal aging of components — a major advantage that boosts reliability and minimizes operational disruptions. The low maintenance requirement also translates to lower long-term costs and less frequent need for technical intervention, making it a pragmatic choice for busy airports.

Industry trusted

Vaisala is a well-established leader in airport weather solutions with over 50 years of expertise and our WindCube is the industry’s reference lidar, a status earned over more than 15 years of scientific innovation and approximately 5,000 deployments around the globe. Our extensive global support network ensures that airports can rely on consistent, high-quality service and technical support that ensures top performance of the lidar for years to come. Choosing Vaisala is not just about selecting a wind lidar; it's about partnering with a trusted provider known for its commitment to quality and innovation in weather monitoring.

Built for purpose

WindCube Scan Airport Edition is specifically engineered to meet the stringent requirements of airport windshear detection. It meets the ICAO standards for windshear measurement with the necessary range and refresh rate, validated by third-party certifications. This built-for-purpose design ensures that the WindCube Scan is not just fit for the job but excels in providing the reliable performance that airports depend on.

Real-world applications

The effectiveness of WindCube Scan is proven in some of the world's most challenging windshear environments. For instance, Bilbao Airport in Spain, known for its severe windshear conditions, relies on WindCube Scan for accurate and reliable monitoring. Madeira Airport in Portugal faces extreme wind conditions due to its location and topography, and trusts Vaisala's technology to enhance safety and operational efficiency.

WindCube Scan is the optimal choice for airports looking to enhance their windshear detection capabilities. Its exceptional range and accuracy, cost-effectiveness, seamless system integration, low maintenance needs, and trusted industry presence make it the superior option.

The technology has been proven with installations at airports like Bilbao and Madeira, which face some of the most severe windshear conditions. By investing in WindCube Scan Airport Edition, airports can ensure they have the best technology in place to maintain safety, efficiency and reliability in their operations.