Background: RECAT is the safe decrease in separation standards between some aircraft types. Following extensive worldwide collaborative research by experts in wake turbulence, extensive safety and risk analysis, and six years of RECAT Phase I and Phase II operational experience at 31 major U.S. airports, it was concluded that the required separation criteria between certain aircraft could be safely decreased. RECAT CWT will take advantage of the continuing evolution of wake mitigation strategies to consolidate the benefits of previous RECAT efforts along with the standards of FAA Order JO 7110.65.

Potomac TRACON (PCT) and Patuxent River RAPCON (NHK) are designated RECAT Facilities and will separate arrivals and departures using RECAT CWT aircraft separation standards. The following Air Traffic Control Towers within the Potomac and Patuxent River approach control areas will be designated as RECAT facilities and will separate arrivals and departures using RECAT CWT aircraft separation standards.

Quantico Marine Corps Radar Air Traffic Control Facility and Airport (NYG)

Andrews Air Force Base Airport (ADW)

Aberdeen Proving Grounds/Phillips Army Airfield Airport (APG)

Thurgood Marshall Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI)

Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO)

Ft. Belvoir/Davidson Army Airfield Airport (DAA)

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

Easton/Newman Field Airport (ESN)

Frederick Municipal Airport (FDK)

Manassas Regional Airport (HEF)

Hagerstown Regional Airport (HGR)

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Pentagon Army Heliport (JPN)

Leesburg Executive Airport (JYO)

Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (MRB)

Martin State Airport (MTN)

Richmond International Airport (RIC)

Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY)

Wallops Flight Facility Airport (WAL)

There will be no change in the radiotelephony use of the terms “Super” and “Heavy” when applicable. There is no change to the format a pilot uses to file a flight plan.

Refer to FAA Order JO 7110.126, Consolidated Wake Turbulence Radar Separation Standards (CWT), for information on aircraft designator types and wake turbulence separation tables. Additional wake turbulence information can be found in Advisory Circular (AC) 90-23G, “Aircraft Wake Turbulence,” and the FAA “Aeronautical Information Manual.”

These documents are available online at: http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices

Please direct questions concerning RECAT to Bryan Lehman, Operations Manager, Potomac TRACON, 540-349-7530.