Characterizing the Hazard of a Wake Vortex Encounter

Abstract

Verbatim from NASA NTRS. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is conducting research with the goal of enabling safe improvements in the capacity of the nation's air transportation system. The wake vortex upset hazard is an important factor in establishing the minimum safe spacing between aircraft during landing and take-off operations, thus impacting airport capacity. Static and free-flight wind tunnel tests and flight tests have provided an extensive data set for improved understanding of vortex encounter dynamics and simulation. Piloted and batch simulation studies are also ongoing to establish a first-order hazard metric and determine the limits of an operationally acceptable wake induced upset. This paper outlines NASA's research in these areas.

Authors

• Vicroy, Dan D. NASA Langley Research Center
• Brandon, Jay NASA Langley Research Center
• Greene, George NASA Langley Research Center
• Rivers, Robert NASA Langley Research Center
• Shah, Gautam NASA Langley Research Center
• Stewart, Eric NASA Langley Research Center
• Stuever, Robert NASA Langley Research Center