This Network was established in 1998 within the framework of the European Commission. It is concerned with a major topic in the aviation community: wake vortices.
Each aircraft is producing wake turbulence in the form of the vortices whose magnitude is depending on aircraft weight, size, and wing span.
Vortices trailing in particular behind a large aircraft constitute a severe hazard to a following aircraft when flying in-rail on the approach path during landing phase.
Therefore, safe separation distances are maintained between aircraft to avoid encountering vortices. Separation distances are laid down by ICAO and group aircraft according to weight.
With air traffic expected to double within the next 15 years, and future aircraft becoming larger, beyond the size of the Boeing 747, wake turbulence problems of today will considerably intensify in the future.
While the hazards caused by wake vortices are universally recognised, their causes are still inadequately understood, in particular with respect to one aircraft type generating more severe turbulence than other types of comparable size.
In view of the limited knowledge base concerning wake vortices, numerous research activities are underway:
Despite numerous on-going activities in the field of wake vortices, it was found that a major effort is needed to exploit the available expertise in this field.
This forum is WakeNet - the Thematic Network Wake Vortex which brings together experts from industry, academia, distinguished research establishments and other enterprises.