Did you know that research on aircraft wake turbulence was instrumental in increasing capacity at Memphis International Airport by 19 percent? A new infographic provides an easy-to-read data visualization describing how our improved understanding of  wake turbulence results in airspace efficiencies.

Increasing Capacity and Making Air Travel Safer, Greener

As airplanes move through the air, counter-rotating horizontal tornadoes are generated off the wings. This phenomenon, known as wake turbulence, creates a potentially dangerous situation for trailing aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) counts on experts at Volpe, The National Transportation Systems Center, to understand the behavior of wake turbulence and to recommend adjustments to aircraft separation standards. Volpe’s experts perform the following:

• Collecting data at or near airports, often pioneering methods and equipment used to conduct the observations.
• Analyzing the data, systems, and procedures to inform FAA policies and regulations.
• Supporting efforts to implement new wake turbulence procedures around the globe

See the infographic for more information.