DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
Dallas - Ft Worth TRACON
2401 Internatiional Parkway
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX 75261
Subject: FAA Aircraft Wake Turbulence Re-Categorization (RECAT) Consolidated Wake Turbulence Radar Separation Standards (CWT) Implementation within Dallas-Ft Worth Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) airspace.
Cancellation: 04/30/2023 0700 (UTC)
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.
Implementation: Effective 0200 Central Daylight Time / 0700 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), April 30, 2021 Dallas-Ft Worth TRACON (D10) will be designated a RECAT Facility and will separate arrivals and departures using RECAT CWT aircraft separation standards. The following Air Traffic Control Towers within the Dallas-Ft Worth approach control area will also be designated as RECAT facilities and will separate arrivals and departures using RECAT CWT aircraft separation standards:
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.
Discussion: In CWT aircraft are grouped into nine Wake Categories, defined as follows:
Category A – A388
Category B – Upper Heavy aircraft.
Category C – Lower Heavy aircraft.
Category D – Heavy aircraft not included in Category B or C.
Category E – B757 aircraft.
Category F – Upper Large aircraft excluding B757 aircraft.
Category G – Lower Large aircraft.
Category H – Small aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 15,400 pounds up to 41,000 pounds.*
Category I – Small aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 15,400 pounds or less.*
*The CWT order changes the lower boundary of Upper Small aircraft from 12,500 pounds to 15,400 pounds. However, be aware, some Small Plus aircraft are categorized as Lower Small (Category I).
Refer to FAA Order JO 7110.126A, Consolidated Wake Turbulence Radar Separation Standards (CWT), for a listing of the most common aircraft designator types as well as 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 Dallas-Ft Worth TRACON, 972-615-2500.