Mitigating the Effects of Aircraft Wake Turbulence Enhances Global Air Safety
The Volpe Center supports the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the research and development of procedures that mitigate the effects of aircraft-wake-avoidance operating requirements while increasing airport operational safety. Volpe Center staff collects, analyzes, and interprets aircraft wake and related meteorological and flight trajectory data in order to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of proposed new aircraft and flight procedures.
The Volpe Center Wake Turbulence Program builds on over a decade of project experience:
- San Francisco Airport (SFO)-Volpe Center collected and analyzed aircraft wake and related data for 250,000 approaches, leading to the development of the Simultaneous Offset Instrument Approach (SOIA) procedure now in use at SFO during low-visibility conditions.
- St. Louis Airport (STL)-Volpe Center evaluated a simultaneous approach/landing procedure on closely spaced parallel runways over a three-year period. The procedure was approved in 2007 and led to approval of similar procedures at Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Seattle airports in 2008.
- St. Louis (STL), Houston (IAH), and Frankfort, Germany (FRA)-Volpe Center collected extensive departure data to evaluate lessening restrictions on departures behind heavy aircraft by taking advantage of the wind speed and direction. The FAA now has an approved program to develop a system, Wake Turbulence Mitigated Departures (WTMD), for installation at 10 U.S. airports.
The Volpe Center participates in key industry working groups to develop procedures to enhance the safety of air travel. Volpe Center staff participated in two international working groups examining safety issues related to new jumbo aircraft. One working group studied the Airbus A380 and the other focused on the Boeing 747. The groups examined appropriate separation of aircraft based on their generation of and susceptibility to wakes.
Volpe Center wake instrumentation during a landing at Lambert - St. Louis International Airport (STL).