Issued: 04/19/2021 1600 (UTC), Effective: 04/26/2021 0830 (UTC)
Indianapolis Airport Traffic Control Tower, Letter to Airmen: LTA-IND-15
Subject: FAA Consolidated Wake Turbulence (CWT) Radar Separation Standards Implementation within Indianapolis Airport Traffic Control Tower/TRACON (IND ATCT) airspace.
Cancellation: 04/19/2023 1600 (UTC)
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 4:30am Eastern Daylight Time / 0830 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), Monday, April 26, 2021, IND ATCT will be designated a RECAT CWT facility and will separate arrivals and departures using RECAT CWT aircraft separation standards. The following Airport Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs) within the IND ATCT TRACON airspace will be designated as RECAT CWT facilities and will separate arrivals and departures using RECAT CWT aircraft separation standards.
- Anderson Non-Federal Contract Tower – Anderson Municipal Airport – Darlington Field, Anderson, IN (AID)
- Columbus Federal Contract Tower - Columbus Municipal Airport, Columbus, IN (BAK)
- Himsel Airport Traffic Control Tower – Himsel Army Airfield, Nineveh, IN (HBE)
- Indianapolis Airport Traffic Control Tower – Indianapolis International Airport,
Indianapolis, IN (IND)
- Muncie Federal Contract Tower - Delaware County Regional Airport, Muncie, IN (MIE)
Discussion: For Indianapolis ATCT/TRACON (IND ATCT), aircraft are grouped into nine (9) Wake Categories based on the following definitions:
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.*
*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
In conjunction with RECAT CWT, the radar automation tool, Automated Terminal Proximity Alert (ATPA), is available for use by controllers at IND ATCT. ATPA monitors qualifying arrival aircraft to Indianapolis International Airport (IND) that are on or near the final approach course. This tool will support RECAT CWT by helping controllers consistently maintain precise minimum separation standards.
Please direct questions concerning Consolidated Wake Turbulence (CWT) to:
Mark Wittmayer, Staff Support Specialist, Indianapolis Airport Traffic Control Tower (IND ATCT), mark.d.wittmayer@faa.gov - 317-227-5812
Anthony R. Marchese
Air Traffic Manager (A), Indianapolis ATCT
