New European Aircraft Wake Turbulence Specification Being Rolled Out
Paris Charles de Gaulle will be the first airport to deploy RECAT-EU, the new categorization of wake turbulence and separation minimums, Eurocontrol announced.
A new Eurocontrol specification for aircraft wake turbulence and separation minimums between departing and landing aircraft at major airports is being rolled out, with Paris Charles de Gaulle being the first airport to deploy it, the agency announced Oct. 20. Called RECAT-EU, the turbulence categorization will optimize separation minimums, allowign airports to increase the number of flights they handle and boosting their efficiency while maintaining an acceptable level of safety, Eurocontrol's news release stated.
It was developed especially for airports operating at or near their maximum capacity because its benefits -- potentially a 5 percent increase in runway capacity -- are generated during periods of highest demand, the agency explained.
The specification was developed with the use of wake measurements that were taken at London Heathrow from October 2008 to December 2010 and additional operating data from Paris Charles de Gaulle.