In response to the growing pressure of increased air traffic on terminal capacity, changes in wake vortex separation procedures must be based not only on the results of theoretical research, but on a sound assessment of current practises. Hence there is a requirement for an objective system for recording wake vortex encounters and the conditions leading to them.
ETWIRL (European Turbulent Wake Incident Reporting Log) is a European project to establish a fully comprehensive pan-European wake vortex incident reporting system and database. The database holds details of actual incidents and associated meteorological data for use in model validation, safety studies and by aviation organisations worldwide.
The reporting system began operation in early 1998, and data became available to aviation organisations and researchers during summer 1998. The system currently involves the participation of a number of major European airlines and air traffic services. The success of the project so far has generated much interest in the US, and it is hoped that a similar system could be implemented to address the increasing capacity problem at many US airports
The 8th Conference on Aviation, Range, and Aerospace Meteorology