Automated following flight to exploit updraft zones

A system to perform a following flight of a following aircraft in an updraft zone of a wake turbulence of a preceding aircraft, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
• sensor-based detecting an airflow field of a vortex with an exploited updraft zone with the following aircraft being in the updraft zone;
• determining a current position of the following aircraft relative to the vortex with the exploited updraft zone based on the airflow field as detected;
• and
• automatically adjusting the current position of the following aircraft to assume a predefined ideal position relative to the vortex with the exploited updraft zone by executing a flight control system of the following aircraft, wherein the following aircraft executes an automatic response when, via a communication link from the preceding aircraft to the following aircraft, at least one of the following is communicated to the following aircraft:
• a modified flight control command on the preceding aircraft, an air traffic control instruction for the preceding aircraft, or a command to change a landing flap position or air-brake flap position on the preceding aircraft.