Prediction, Understanding, and Mitigation of Aircraft Wake Vortices

Abstract

As an unavoidable consequence of lift aircraft generate a pair of counter-rotating and long-lived wake vortices that may pose a potential risk to following aircraft. The highest risk to encounter wake vortices prevails in ground proximity, where the vortices cannot descend below the glide path but tend to rebound due to the interaction with the ground surface. Prediction of wake vortex drift, descent, and decay, and the resulting minimum separations between consecutive aircraft is essential for an effective, resource-efficient, and safe guidance and planning of air traffic.