Aveillant’s 3D Holographic Radar™ passes its first real world environmental test

The UK’s worst storm in 60 years brought hurricane force winds, sleet and snow to parts of the UK in early December, badly affecting the aviation industry.

Airports in the worst affected regions of the country were forced to shut down primary surveillance radars (PSR) due to the high winds and in one incident, a radar installation was severely damaged and put out of operation.

However, Aveillant’s 3D Holographic Radar™ installation at Hare Hill, East Ayrshire withstood the conditions and continued to operate at peak capacity, successfully tracking aircraft at altitudes from ground level up to 50,000 feet. The meteorological station at the site, some 1600 ft above sea level, recorded continuous wind speeds of up to 100 mph, as well as freezing temperatures.

David Crisp, Aveillant CEO said “We have engineered and built the Holographic Radar^TM to the highest possible specifications and are very pleased it has passed a true operational test, continuing to function perfectly in such extreme conditions”.

Holographic Radar units are already installed at airports in Scotland and England and provide an advanced wind turbine clutter mitigation service, removing the deleterious effects that wind turbines cause to air traffic control displays.