Increased traffic flows involving closely-spaced parallel, converging, and intersecting runway operations

This improvement will explore concepts to recover lost capacity through reduced separation standards, increased applications of dependent and independent operations, enabled operations in lower visibility conditions, and changes in separation responsibility between Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the flight deck. OI 102141 Improve Parallel Runway operations

Notable example of a local advance that will see system-wide implementation: Recategorization (RECAT) of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Wake Turbulence Separation Categories at Memphis International Airport (MEM). The FAA currently uses six (6) wake turbulence separation categories based primarily on weight: Super (A380), Heavy, B757, Large, Small+, and Small. RECAT applies advances in knowledge of wake physics over the breadth of the current wake categories. Table 1 details the current FAA wake separation standards. The FAA recently approved a recategorization of wake turbulence separation minima from the current standard to a new standard (RECAT Phase I). This approval was based on years of joint research and development by the FAA, Eurocontrol, scientific experts in wake, and experts in safety and risk analysis. Categories are now based on weight, certificated approach speeds, wing characteristics, along with special consideration given to aircraft with limited ability to counteract adverse rolls. RECAT places aircraft into six (6) categories (labeled A-F) for both departure and arrival separation.