Federal Aviation

Administration

REDAC / NAS Ops 

Jeff Tittsworth (AJV-82) & Paul Strande (ANG-C22) 

March 10, 2016

NextGen – Wake Turbulence R,E&D 

and Wake Re-Categorization

BLI Numbers: A12.a and 1A06B

Review of FY 2018 

Proposed Portfolio
Federal Aviation Wake Administration

2

Wake R,E&D and Re-Categorization

A12.a and 1A06B BLI#’s for FY18

Wake turbulence research and development (Wake R&D) and ReCategorization (RECAT) projects support the NextGen objective 

to accommodate increased demand (flights) during peak demand 

periods. They have increased access to airport runways and 

airspace while maintaining or enhancing the safety of the 

National Airspace System (NAS) .

Wake R&D and RECAT mature wake mitigation operational 

concepts to the point they can be directly implemented by FAA 

orders. If NAS infrastructure enhancements are required, the 

concepts are developed to the point that they can be 

operationally demonstrated and a repeatable process can be 

handed off to the ATO for implementation.
Federal Aviation Wake Administration

3

Wake Turbulence R,E&D/BLI #: A12.a

Capability Overview

People:

• Wake Program Manager: Jeff Tittsworth (ATO)

• Wake Research Manager: Paul Strande (ANG)

• Subject Matter Experts: Edward Johnson (AIR), Wayne Gallo (AFS), Kevin 

Connelly (NATCA), RJ Eisemann (ALPA)

• Contract support SMEs: 4 world renowned wake experts, two previous AFS 

Chief Science and Technology Advisors for Wake, retired branch manager for 

AFS-450

Organizations:

• Volpe NTSC: data collection and analysis, safety case development 

• MITRE/CAASD: concept development, benefits analysis

• MIT/LL: wind forecast algorithm development

• CSSI: en-route wake data analysis and concept development

• NEXTOR II: future concepts modelling and analysis
Federal Aviation Wake Administration

Anticipated Research in CY16/17

Planned Research Activities

• Wake Standards Developed for New Aircraft Designs:

• “Procedures Only” Wake Mitigations Developed for ATC Operations

• “Technology Aided” Wake Mitigations Developed for ATC Operations

• Wake Data Bases, Models and Data Extraction Tools Developed and 

Applied

Expected Research Products

• A320-Neo series aircraft – wake separations added to FAA Orders – CY16

• CS100/300 series aircraft – wake separations added to FAA Orders – CY16

• SFO 19’s authorized for 7110.308 operations – CY16

• 1 NM diagonal operations authorized for 7110.308 (SFO key site) – CY16

• 737-Max series aircraft – wake separations added to FAA Orders – CY17

• Changes in FAA ATC Orders impacted by the use of RECAT Phase II/2.5 

wake separation standards – series of Orders modified - CY16/17

• Series of NextGen and SESAR wake mitigation concept development/ 

definition coordination workshops/seminars

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Federal Aviation Wake Administration

Anticipated Research in CY16/17

Expected Research Products (continued)

• Wake Turbulence Mitigation for Single Runway (WTMSR) concept expanded 

to address direct use by controllers of time based wake separation standards 

(based on NATS procedures at London Heathrow) – CY 2016

• Wind prediction algorithms for WTMSR arrival/departure corridors 

development completed – CY 2017

• Wake encounter mitigation technology aided concepts/procedures 

developed for piloted aircraft en-route trajectories – CY 2017

• Wake encounter mitigation technology aided concepts/procedures 

developed for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operating in the NAS - CY 

2017

• Complete cost/benefit assessment of shifting from static to dynamic wake 

separation standards and procedures – CY 2017

• Develop/acquire enhanced wake/wind tracking sensors for collection of wake 

transport and decay data – ongoing activity

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Federal Aviation Wake Administration

Anticipated Research in CY16/17

Expected Research Products (continued)

• Standards developed for real time in-flight observed weather information 

transmitted by aircraft – information needed for dynamic wake mitigation 

tools and other users of aircraft observed weather data – ongoing activity 

through CY 2020

• Incorporate Canadian NRC en-route aircraft wake measurement data into 

the FAA wake transport and decay data base – ongoing activity

• Probabilistic wake encounter relative risk model validated for use in 

feasibility investigations, both for terminal area and en-route trajectories –

CY2017 

• Determine from light-aircraft simulator pilot runs and other data sources -

what constitutes a minor or major wake encounter hazard for light aircraft –

CY 2017

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Federal Aviation Wake Administration

Emerging A12.a FY18 Focal Areas

In addition to on-going research:

• Continued analysis of Embraer E-2 series aircraft design and development of 

wake separation recommendations for use by ATC 

• In depth analysis of Boeing 777-8/9 series aircraft engineering design data 

and in coordination with Boeing, determination if FAA will require flight test 

data to determine wake separations

• Evaluate a feasibility prototype of controller decision support tool information 

display for use in dynamically reducing the required wake separations 

between aircraft in instrument approaches to a single runway

• In collaboration with Flight Standards Service, continued small scale flight 

data recorder screenings of an aircraft series for potential medium to low 

level wake encounter events. (If this project receives requested increased 

funding or AFS incorporates this activity into its research portfolio, the 

originally planned large scale activity would be accomplished - $500K 

needed)

• Using probabilistic wake encounter models, develop relative wake encounter 

risk assessments for proposed specific trajectory based ATC procedures and 

associated airspace design

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Federal Aviation Wake Administration

Emerging A12.a FY18 Focal Areas

In addition to on-going research:

• A portion of the wake turbulence data collection suite is refreshed with 

updated measuring and data processing technology. (If requested additional 

funding is provided in FY18, the third prototype LIDAR will be overhauled and 

refreshed with updated scanning and processing components - $500K 

needed)

• Refined prototype algorithms that use downlinked aircraft flight information to 

adjust required wake mitigation separations between aircraft

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Federal Aviation Wake Administration

9

Wake Turbulence R,E&D

FY 2015 Accomplishment / Issues

Research Requirement Outputs/Outcomes

NARP Funding ($M)*

FY14 FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20

8.5 7.9 7.9 7.9 7.9 7.7 7.8

FY15 Major Outputs:

• SRMD modification for FAA Order 7110.308A to allow use of 

RNAV approach to Boston 4L Runway – More BOS capacity

• SRMD for setting the ATC wake separations to be applied to the 

Airbus A350 aircraft when it operates in the NAS

• Wake separation recommendations for A320 Neo & CS100/300

• Wake data collected on heavy aircraft flying into JFK and SFO – for use in NextGen capacity/safety assessments

• Additional aircraft modules developed for flight data recorder 

wake encounter screening tool – needed to establish basis for 

relative risk assessments

• Initial validation of probabilistic wake encounter risk assessment 

tool for use in evaluating proposed en-route ATC procedures 

• Work with controllers, air carriers, pilots, other air 

navigation service providers (ANSPs), government and 

industry research organizations, aircraft and avionics 

manufacturers, and airport operators to understand and 

perform research to address near-, mid- and far-term 

needs regarding wake mitigation separation standards 

and procedures

• Sponsors: Improved Multiple Runway Operations & 

Separation Management Portfolios (ANG-C7) 

POC: Jeffrey Tittsworth (AJV-82) & Paul Strande (ANGC22) 

• Assessment of the Airbus A320 Neo and determination of 

wake mitigations to be applied by ATC when the aircraft 

operates in the NAS

• Methodology developed and utilized in processing high 

altitude aircraft wake data collected by the Canadian 

National Research Council aircraft during flights behind 

cooperating commercial aircraft in Canadian airspace

• Analysis to modify Wind Forecast Algorithm (WFA) wind 

limit parameters to enhance WTMD system to support 

Paired Departures concept at SFO

*Funding for the project’s contracts
Federal Aviation Wake Administration

10

Wake Re-categorization

1A06B

The RECAT project supports the NextGen objective to 

accommodate increased demand (flights) during peak demand 

periods by developing wake separation standards that are 

tailored to aircraft performance characteristics rather than the 

more general single aircraft weight parameter of the present 

standards. 

Wake RECAT uses matures wake mitigation operational concepts 

to the point they can be directly implemented by FAA orders. If 

NAS infrastructure enhancements are required, the concepts are 

developed to the point that they can be operationally 

demonstrated and a repeatable process can be handed off to the 

ATO for implementation. 
Federal Aviation Wake Administration

11

Wake Re-Categorization/BLI #:1A06B

Capability Overview

People:

• Wake Program Manager: Jeff Tittsworth (ATO)

• Wake Research Manager: Paul Strande (ANG)

• Subject Matter Experts: Edward Johnson (AIR), Wayne Gallo (AFS). 

Kevin Connelly (NATCA), RJ Eisemann (ALPA)

• Contract support SMEs: 4 world renowned wake experts, two 

previous AFS Chief Science and Technology Advisors for Wake, 

retired branch manager for AFS-450

Organizations:

• Volpe NTSC: data collection and analysis, safety case development 

• MITRE/CAASD: approach/departure speed analysis, benefits 

analysis
Federal Aviation Wake Administration

Anticipated R&D in FY16 and FY17

Planned Research Activities

• RECAT Phase 2.5 safety analysis – FY16

• Development of categorical optimization tool for RECAT 2.5 – FY16

• Operational demonstration of RECAT 2.5 initiated at 2 sites – FY17

• Evaluation of dynamic wake separation concepts for incorporation into 

RECAT Phase 3 planning – FY17

Expected research Products

• Approved RECAT Phase 2.5 SRMD – FY17

• Authorized RECAT Phase 2.5 order – FY17

• Operational demonstration of RECAT 2.5 at 2 sites – FY17

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Federal Aviation Wake Administration

Emerging RECAT FY18 Focal Areas

• Initiate RECAT Phase 2.5 operational demonstration at the 3rd 

selected TRACON and associated ATCTs

• Completion of the RECAT Phase 2.5 wake separation standards 

operational demonstrations at the 3 selected TRACONs and 

associated ATCTs

• Refinement and handoff of RECAT Phase 2.5 Operational 

Demonstration products to ATO for follow-on NAS wide 

implementation of Phase 2.5

• Definition of the RECAT Phase III products that will be developed by 

the RECAT project

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Federal Aviation Wake Administration

14

Wake Re-Categorization (RECAT)

FY 2015 Accomplishment / Issues

Research Requirement Outputs/Outcomes

CIP Funding ($M)

FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20

0.0 0.95 * 1.8 2.5 2.5 0.0

• RECAT Phase 1.5 continues to deliver benefits across the 

NAS (MEM, SDF, CVG, ATL, IAH/HOU, CLT, 

JFK/EWR/LGA, ORD/MDW, and DEN

• Approved SRMD for RECAT Phase 2 pairwise wake 

separation standards

• NAS wide implementation of separation reduction behind 

B757 is a direct outcome of RECAT 1.5

• Refine pair-wise wake separation standards for in-trail, 

directly behind, and intersection departures (RECAT 2.5)

• Define and develop concept for dynamic pair-wise wake 

separation (RECAT Phase 3)

• Sponsor: Separation Management Portfolio (ANG-C7) & 

Jeffrey Tittsworth (AJV-82) 

• POC: Paul Strande (ANG-C22) 

* $575K for RECAT 1.5 implementation

• Accomplishments: AOV approval of RECAT Phase 2 SRMD 

and pairwise wake separation standards; initial analysis for 

RECAT Phase 2.5

• Issues: Questions regarding implementation of RECAT 

Phase 2 operational concept. Analysis is underway to 

complete assessment of RECAT Phase 2 concept, 

operational impacts, and benefits prior to Phase 2 key site 

implementation.
Federal Aviation Wake Administration

NAS Wide Separation Reduction

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A B C D E F

Super Upper H Lower H Upper L Lower L Small

A Super MRS 5.0 6.0 7.0 7.0 8.0

B Upper H MRS 3.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 7.0

C Lower H MRS MRS MRS 3.5 3.5 6.0

D Upper L MRS MRS MRS MRS MRS 4.0

E Lower L MRS MRS MRS MRS MRS MRS

F Small MRS MRS MRS MRS MRS MRS

Follower

Leader

RECAT 1.5 Changes Relative to RECAT 1.0

Traditional 

Classes

Trailing Aircraft

Super Heavy B757 Large Small

Super MRS 6.0 7.0 7.0 8.0

Heavy MRS 4.0 5.0 5.0 6.0

B757 MRS MRS MRS MRS 4.0

Large MRS MRS MRS MRS 4.0

Small MRS MRS MRS MRS MRS

Separation changes behind B757 

• Authorized FAA Order 7110.65w 

effective Dec 10, 2015 and 

• Applies to all non-RECAT sites

RECAT I reduced separation for Heavy and 

Large behind B757 from 4 NM to 3 NM (MRS)

RECAT Phase 1.5

• B757s are categorized with other upper 

Large aircraft (Cat D)

• Separation was reduced for Smalls (Cat F) 

behind B757 (Cat D) from 5 to 4 NM