A380 SUPER AND WAKE TURBULENCE

Airbus.com

Wake turbulence is turbulence that forms behind an aircraft as it passes through the air. Wingtip vortices occur when a wing is generating lift. Wake turbulence exists in the vortex flow behind the wing. The strength of wingtip vortices is determined primarily by the weight and airspeed of the aircraft.Wingtip vortices make up the primary and most dangerous component of wake turbulence. This is the reason the separation criteria had to be written out for A380.

The FAA provides for SUPER category for A380 in wake turbulence category.

FAA included the expression “SUPER” immediately after the aircraft call sign in communications with a terminal facility about A380 operations, and when issuing traffic advisories regarding an A380.

Common separation minima promulgated to counter wake turbulence from SUPER are:

Take-off

An aircraft of a lower wake vortex category must not be allowed to take off less than two minutes behind an aircraft of a higher wake vortex category. If the following aircraft does not start its take off roll from the same point as the preceding aircraft, this is increased to three minutes.

Landing

Preceding aircraft	Following aircraft	Minimum radar separation
Super	Super	4 NM
	Heavy	6 NM
	Large	7 NM
	Small	8 NM
Heavy	Heavy	4 NM
	Large	5 NM
	Small	5 NM
Large	Small	4 NM

SUPER is currently being reserved exclusively for A380 and we hope more aircraft types join this category!!!!!!