A cooling system includes a surface comprising a plurality of orifices and a flow control plasma actuator positioned proximate an orifice to induce cooling air attachment to the surface. In an exemplary embodiment, the plasma actuator includes a power source, a first electrode in contact with a first dielectric layer and connected to the power source, a second electrode in contact with a second dielectric layer and connected to the power source, and a ground electrode. The power source drives the first electrode with a first ac voltage pattern and drives the second electrode with a second ac voltage pattern. The first voltage pattern and the second voltage pattern have a phase difference. In further embodiments, a dc voltage can be used to drive one or more of the electrodes, where the dc voltage can be pulsed in specific embodiments. In another embodiment, a cooling system includes a suction mechanism positioned proximate an orifice to induce cooling air attachment to the surface, the section mechanism being positioned downstream of the orifice.