Aeronautics and Air Transport Research 7th Framework Programme ...
Aeronautics and Air Transport Research 7th Framework Programme ...
Aeronautics and Air Transport Research 7th Framework Programme ...
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The Greening of <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Transport</strong><br />
46<br />
WakeNet3-Europe<br />
European Coordination Action<br />
for <strong>Air</strong>craft Wake Turbulence<br />
State of the Art - Background<br />
A fl ying aircraft generates a turbulent wake<br />
as a direct consequence of its aerodynamic<br />
lift generation. This wake consists of a high<br />
amplitude of swirling air fl ow velocities concentrated<br />
in a region of relatively small spatial<br />
extent trailing behind the generator aircraft.<br />
Another aircraft entering into this wake may<br />
be signifi cantly impacted by the vortex fl ow.<br />
In order to prevent hazardous wake encounters,<br />
minimum separations behind medium<br />
<strong>and</strong> heavy aircraft are maintained by air traffi<br />
c control <strong>and</strong> pilots. This allows wakes to<br />
decay to non-hazardous levels as they age<br />
<strong>and</strong> are moving out of the fl ight path of following<br />
aircraft.<br />
The International Civil Aviation Organization<br />
(ICAO) has defi ned ‘Minimum Wake Turbulence<br />
Separations’ for worldwide application.<br />
These separations are based on three<br />
dedicated aircraft classes (Light, Medium <strong>and</strong><br />
Heavy) depending on aircraft maximum takeoff<br />
weight. Some regulating national authorities<br />
have introduced modifi ed regulations to<br />
refl ect their specifi c experience obtained over<br />
the years.<br />
Today’s wake turbulence separations have<br />
basically been established in the 1970s.<br />
They are generally regarded as safe since the<br />
number of wake encounter incidents by commercial<br />
aircraft is very small as long as they are<br />
applied. But they are also regarded as overly<br />
conservative under many circumstances, for<br />
example in conditions of high atmospheric<br />
turbulence or strong crosswinds.<br />
<strong>Air</strong>craft wake turbulence in general <strong>and</strong><br />
the associated separations have received<br />
increased interest again during the last decade<br />
for a number of reasons:<br />
Concepts<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ANSPs<br />
<strong>Air</strong>ports & <strong>Air</strong>lines<br />
Regulators<br />
<strong>Air</strong>craft manufacturers<br />
Safety<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
WN3-E Coordination Areas<br />
Regulators<br />
ANSPs<br />
<strong>Air</strong>craft manufacturers<br />
<strong>Research</strong> institutes<br />
Pilot unions<br />
Technologies<br />
<strong>Research</strong> institutes<br />
Equipment<br />
manufacturers<br />
<br />
<strong>Air</strong>craft manufacturers<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
© <strong>Air</strong>bus Deutschl<strong>and</strong> GmbH
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