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[AIXM-572] Aircraft wake turbulence categories

[AIXM-572] Aircraft wake turbulence categories

Owned by KOKOLIA Sergo (EXT) (Deactivated)
Last updated: 2025 Feb 10 by GOLU Mihai (EXT)

ID:

AIXM-572

target version:

AIXM 5.2

version:

1.0

last updated:

05 SEP 2022

status:

APPROVED


Description

Rename the values and update the definitions of wake turbulence categories to align with ICAO defined wake turbulence categories. Add additional values corresponding to the categorisation of wake turbulence from the wake RECAT program.

Note: This CP replaces the previously approved AIXM-411.

Rationale for change

See https://aixmccb.atlassian.net/browse/AIXM-329

The current list of values for the AircraftCharacteristics.wakeTurbulence attribute is not sufficiently defined and does not align with the ICAO defined wake turbulence categories and wake turbulence groups..  Updating the terminology to align with the ICAO Doc 4444 - PANS-ATM and adding complete definitions will more accurately represent the wake turbulence categories/groups in AIXM.

The addition of wakeRECAT values to the AircraftCharacteristics.wakeTurbulence attribute is necessary to capture new categorization data. The current categories defined by ICAO have been updated through an effort known as the wake turbulence Re-categorisation (RECAT) by the FAA, EUROCONTROL and the aviation industry. It supports safe separation standards as a way to increase airport efficiency and reduce instances of aircraft over-separation.

When both the old and new values for wake categorisation need to be used, separate instances of the AircraftCharacteristic can be coded.

Impact assessment

[FWD_MAP_1:1] Data mapping is possible and no data loss occurs when data is exchanged from a system (A) that uses AIXM 5.1.1 for output towards a system (B) that uses AIXM 5.2 for input.

[BWD_MAP_1:1] Data mapping is possible and no data loss occurs when data is exchanged from a system (B) that uses AIXM 5.2 for output towards a system (A) that uses AIXM 5.1.1 for input.

Change Proposal details

In the UML model:

  • Change the definition of CodeWakeTurbulenceBaseType to read: “A coded indication of the wake turbulence category or group of the aircraft.”
  • In the CodeWakeTurbulenceBaseType data type:
    • Add new coded values:
      • LIGHT: “An aircraft type with a maximum certified take-off mass of 7 000 kg or less.”
      • HEAVY: “An aircraft type with a maximum certified take-off mass of 136 000 kg or more, with the exception of aircraft types listed in Doc 8643 in the SUPER categor”
      • SUPER: “An aircraft type specified as such in Doc 8643, Aircraft Type Designators”;
      • GROUP_A: “An aircraft type with a maximum certified take-off mass of 136 000 kg or more, and a wing span less than or equal to 80 m but greater than 74.68 m.”;
      • GROUP_B: “An aircraft type with a maximum certified take-off mass of 136 000 kg or more, and a wing span less than or equal to 74.68 m but greater than 53.34 m.”;
      • GROUP_C: “An aircraft type with a maximum certified take-off mass of 136 000 kg or more, and a wing span less than or equal to 53.34 m but greater than 38.1 m.”;
      • GROUP_D: “An aircraft type with a maximum certified take-off mass of less than 136 000 kg but more than 18 600 kg, and a wing span greater than 32 m.”;
      • GROUP_E: “An aircraft type with a maximum certified take-off mass of less than 136 000 kg but more than 18 600 kg, and a wing span less than or equal to 32 m but greater than 27.43 m.”;
      • GROUP_F: “An aircraft type with a maximum certified take-off mass of less than 136 000 kg but more than 18 600 kg, and a wing span less than or equal to 27.43 m.”;
      • GROUP_G: “An aircraft type with a maximum certified take-off mass of 18 600 kg or less (without wing span criterion).”;
      • OTHER: “Other.”.
    • Delete the following coded values:
      • LOW: “Low wake turbulence”;
      • HIGH: “High wake turbulence”.
    • Update the following code list value definition to:
    • MEDIUM: “An aircraft type with a maximum certified take-off mass of less than 136 000 kg but more than 7 000 kg.”.

The following UML class diagram indicates the new/changed elements:

Mapping AIXM 5.1.1 to AIXM 5.2 (forward)

[MAPC-01] The following algorithm shall be applied:

  • For each AircraftCharacteristic that has one of the following wakeTurbulence values:
    • Replace “LOW” with “LIGHT”
    • Replace “HIGH” with “HEAVY”
    • Replace “OTHER:SUPER” with “SUPER”
    • Replace “OTHER:GROUP_A” with “GROUP_A”
    • Replace “OTHER:GROUP_B” with “GROUP_B”
    • Replace “OTHER:GROUP_C” with “GROUP_C”
    • Replace “OTHER:GROUP_D” with “GROUP_D”
    • Replace “OTHER:GROUP_E” with ”GROUP_E”
    • Replace “OTHER:GROUP_F” with ”GROUP_F”
    • Replace “OTHER:GROUP_G” with ”GROUP_G”

Mapping AIXM 5.2 to AIXM 5.1.1 (backward)

[MAPC-01] The following algorithm shall be applied:

  • For each AircraftCharacteristic that has one of the following wakeTurbulence values:
    • Replace “LIGHT” with “LOW”
    • Replace “HEAVY” with “HIGH”
    • Replace “SUPER” with “OTHER:SUPER”
    • Replace “GROUP_A” with “OTHER:GROUP_A”
    • Replace “GROUP_B” with “OTHER:GROUP_B”
    • Replace “GROUP_C” with “OTHER:GROUP_C”
    • Replace “GROUP_D” with “OTHER:GROUP_D”
    • Replace “GROUP_E” with ”OTHER:GROUP_E”
    • Replace “GROUP_F” with ”OTHER:GROUP_F”
    • Replace “GROUP_G” with ”OTHER:GROUP_G”

Mapping example

(Note: for mapping test data see: https://github.com/aixm/mapping_52_511/tree/master/AIXM-xxx) 

AIXM InputAIXM Output
Forward AircraftWakeTurbulance 5.1.1 input
message:AIXMBasicMessage
  message:hasMember
    InitialLeg
      gml:identifier = dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e45
      timeSlice
        InitialLegTimeSlice
          gml:validTime
            gml:TimePeriod
              gml:beginPosition = 2008-09-25
              gml:endPosition = 2021-10-07
          interpretation = BASELINE
          legPath = STRAIGHT
          approach =  urn:uuid:dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e14
  message:hasMember
    InstrumentApproachProcedure
      gml:identifier = dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e14
      timeSlice
        InstrumentApproachProcedureTimeSlice
          gml:validTime
            gml:TimePeriod
              gml:beginPosition = 2008-09-25
              gml:endPosition = 2021-10-07
          interpretation = BASELINE
          flightChecked = NO
          name = RNAV (RNP) Y RWY 29 KEWR
          aircraftCharacteristic
            AircraftCharacteristic
              aircraftLandingCategory = OTHER:A_B_C_D
              wakeTurbulence = LOW
          approachType = RNP


______________________________________________________
Backward AircraftWakeTurbulance 5.2 input
message:AIXMBasicMessage
  message:hasMember
    InitialLeg
      gml:identifier = dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e45
      timeSlice
        InitialLegTimeSlice
          gml:validTime
            gml:TimePeriod
              gml:beginPosition = 2008-09-25
              gml:endPosition = 2021-10-07
          interpretation = PERMDELTA
          legPath = STRAIGHT
          approach =  urn:uuid:dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e14
  message:hasMember
    InstrumentApproachProcedure
      gml:identifier = dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e14
      timeSlice
        InstrumentApproachProcedureTimeSlice
          gml:validTime
            gml:TimePeriod
              gml:beginPosition = 2008-09-25
              gml:endPosition = 2021-10-07
          interpretation = PERMDELTA
          flightChecked = NO
          name = RNAV (RNP) Y RWY 29 KEWR
          aircraftCapability
            AircraftCharacteristic
              gml:identifier = dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e75
              aircraftLandingCategory = OTHER:A_B_C_D
              wakeTurbulence = SUPER
          approachType = RNP






Forward AircraftWakeTurbulance 5.2 output
message:AIXMBasicMessage
  message:hasMember
    InitialLeg
      gml:identifier = dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e45
      timeSlice
        InitialLegTimeSlice
          gml:validTime
            gml:TimePeriod
              gml:beginPosition = 2008-09-25
              gml:endPosition = 2021-10-07
          interpretation = PERMDELTA
          legPath = STRAIGHT
          approach =  urn:uuid:dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e14
  message:hasMember
    InstrumentApproachProcedure
      gml:identifier = dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e14
      timeSlice
        InstrumentApproachProcedureTimeSlice
          gml:validTime
            gml:TimePeriod
              gml:beginPosition = 2008-09-25
              gml:endPosition = 2021-10-07
          interpretation = PERMDELTA
          flightChecked = NO
          name = RNAV (RNP) Y RWY 29 KEWR
          aircraftCapability
            AircraftCharacteristic
              gml:identifier = dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e75
              aircraftLandingCategory = OTHER:A_B_C_D
              wakeTurbulence = LIGHT
          approachType = RNP

______________________________________________________
Backward AircraftWakeTurbulance 5.1.1 output
message:AIXMBasicMessage
  message:hasMember
    InitialLeg
      gml:identifier = dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e45
      timeSlice
        InitialLegTimeSlice
          gml:validTime
            gml:TimePeriod
              gml:beginPosition = 2008-09-25
              gml:endPosition = 2021-10-07
          interpretation = BASELINE
          legPath = STRAIGHT
          approach =  urn:uuid:dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e14
  message:hasMember
    InstrumentApproachProcedure
      gml:identifier = dfd04617-c8bd-443b-8290-067ba2e50e14
      timeSlice
        InstrumentApproachProcedureTimeSlice
          gml:validTime
            gml:TimePeriod
              gml:beginPosition = 2008-09-25
              gml:endPosition = 2021-10-07
          interpretation = BASELINE
          flightChecked = NO
          name = RNAV (RNP) Y RWY 29 KEWR
          aircraftCharacteristic
            AircraftCharacteristic
              aircraftLandingCategory = OTHER:A_B_C_D
              wakeTurbulence = OTHER:SUPER
          approachType = RNP