Background: Aircraft wake recategorization(RECAT) is the safe decrease in separation standards between some aircraft types. Worldwide collaborative research by experts in wake turbulence, extensive safety and risk analysis, and over six years of RECAT operational experience at major U.S. airports has shown the required separation criteria between certain aircraft could be safely decreased.  Consolidated Wake Turbulence (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 0500 Mountain Standard Time / 1200 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), Thursday, February,10  2022,  Colorado Springs Tower/TRACON (COS) will be designated a RECAT CWT facility and will separate arrivals and departures using RECAT CWT aircraft separation standards.  The following Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs) within the Colorado Springs Approach Control areas will also be designated as RECAT CWT facilities and will separate arrivals and departures using RECAT CWT aircraft separation standards.

• City of Colorado Spring Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs, CO (COS)
• United States Air Force Academy Airfield, Colorado Springs, CO (AFF)
• Butts Army Airfield, Fort Carson, CO (FCS)

Discussion: For Colorado Springs Tower/TRACON (COS), aircraft are grouped into nine Wake Categories based on the following definitions:

• Category A – A388/A225
• 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.*

*This 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 7110.126, Consolidated Wake Turbulence Radar Separation Standards (CWT), for information on aircraft designator types and wake turbulence separation tables.  There are no changes to existing radiotelephony usage, “HEAVY” and “SUPER” are used when applicable.  RECAT information can also be found in Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) #12007, #14007, and Information For Operators (InFO) #16016.  Additional wake turbulence information can be found in Advisory Circular (AC) 90-23G, “Aircraft Wake Turbulence,” and the FAA “Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).”

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

Please direct questions concerning Consolidated Wake Turbulence (CWT) to:

Dan Littleford, Colorado Springs Tower/TRACON (COS), 719-380-6720, dan.littleford@faa.gov