WakeNet Europe - European Coordination Activities for Aircraft Wake Turbulence

Abstract

WakeNet Europe - European Coordination Activities for Aircraft Wake Turbulence The WakeNet-Europe coordination activities are fostering multidisciplinary exchange between scientific and operational experts and other stakeholders on aircraft wake vortex turbulence, which is a safety topic of high global relevance for aviation. To mitigate the potential hazard of encountering wake turbulence, minimum separation distances are prescribed for different flight phases, which limit capacity. The foreseen high increase in air traffic amplifies the capacity and safety problems especially for major European airports necessitating improved operations and systems to achieve safety and capacity goals. The complexity of the interdisciplinary wake turbulence topic and the international dimension require coordination and networking activities to create synergies between research projects, development/ implementation activities and users/ stakeholders. Wake turbulence science and technology development is progressing towards implementa¬tion, necessitating early involvement of rulemaking authorities and ICAO as well as international cooperation.