###### Abstract  
The importance of gust detection and its impact on flight is a broad and critical subject, particularly in the context of flight safety. When a gust is detected early through appropriate methods, the pilot can adjust the aircraft's flight state accordingly, thereby reducing the risk associated with adverse atmospheric conditions. Without timely intervention, such conditions may compromise safety margins. If early detection is not achieved, the time available for an effective response is significantly reduced. This study investigates state-of-the-art gust detection methods, with a particular focus on their relevance during the final approach phase of flight. A theoretical framework is developed, leading to the formulation of a novel gust detection method. The proposed approach was tested under simulated conditions using an experimental setup comprising both software and hardware components. The simulation environment modelled rapid changes in wind conditions affecting an aircraft, enabling the validation of the method's capability to estimate gust characteristics. The final analysis evaluates the method's accuracy using simulation-derived data and discusses its performance, including identified limitations. The findings contribute to the development of more robust gust detection systems and support ongoing efforts to enhance flight safety, particularly during critical flight phases. wind; gust; estimation; 3D; airplane; aircraft; complementary filtering +
Footnote †: journal: Applied sciences  
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attack is exceeded [3; 4; 5; 6]. A key contributor in such scenarios is the presence of swirling or rotating air patterns associated with hazardous weather phenomena, including thunderstorms, frontal surfaces, squall lines, and convective clouds. While avoiding turbulent conditions is ideal, it is not always possible. Between 2022 and 2025, civil aviation statistics recorded 14 accidents, 19 incidents, and 3 reports attributed to gusty wind conditions [7]. Gust detection in the context of weather phenomena is supported by both ground-based systems, such as the Low-Level Wind Shear Alert System (LLWAS), Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (TDWR), and SOund Detection And Ranging (SODAR) [8], and on-board avionics, including Wx weather radar, Predictive Wind Shear (PWS), Reactive Wind Shear (RWS), or Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems [9; 10]. Despite the advancements in these technologies, some threats remain invisible to detection systems and pilots' visual observations. These include wake turbulence (which necessitates separation minima between airplanes during departure and approach) and clear air turbulence (CAT) [2; 11; 12]. CAT is primarily caused by disruptions in the airflow within region of strong vertical wind shear, particularly around jet streams, where significant wind speed differences exist between adjacent altitude layers [13]. This type of turbulence poses a serious threat to airliners--especially at cruising flight levels, where aircraft operate within a narrow speed margin known as the coffin corner--a flight regime in which the stall speed closely approaches the critical Mach number defining the upper limit of subsonic flight. Research following the severe turbulence accident involving Singapore Airlines Flight 321--which resulted in one fatality and 104 injuries [14]--highlights the growing concern surrounding CAT. Studies have revealed a 50% increase in CAT occurrence [15] and a 55% rise over the North Atlantic between 1979 and 2020 [16] attributed to climate change. Currently, pilots rely solely on forecasts and mutual reporting through air traffic control for awareness of CAT, as it remains undetectable by onboard sensors. In analyzing gust components, the vertical wind component is the most significant in terms of aerodynamic loading, as it directly influences the local angle of attack and, consequently, the lift force. Meanwhile, lateral (crosswind) gusts present the greatest challenge to piloting precision during the final approach.