" Heavy"

[cressidom]

When some reports to a controller, with the the phrase 'HEAVY'
I.e 'Singapore 655 Heavy' - What does the heavy refer to ?

Thanks

[routechecker]

The wake turbulence category of the aircraft, e.g. B747s, A340s, C17s, A380s... They are all H (Heavy)

rgds

[MancBoy]

Heavy is the wake vortex category of that particular aircraft.

In other words the amount of turbulence that is created by the aircraft moving through the air.

The bigger the aircraft the bigger the turbulence caused therefore the distance a following aircraft has to follow is in relation to the previous aircrafts wake vortex category.

Aircraft of the same wake vortex can follow using the minimum distance.

Wake vortex is only a problem when aircraft are landing or departing, in en-route we have to use 5 miles anyway so wake vortex doesn't come into it.

http://www.chirp.co.uk/New/Downloads/pdfs/AIC17_99.pdf#search='wake%20vortex%20categories'

This link might help.

[PA-28-180]

When I was training in northern California, I asked the approach controller at Travis AFB the same question. His answer was anything 300,000 pounds and above was categorized as a 'heavy'.
Obviously, as already pointed out, this refers to wake turbulence/avoidance.

[cressidom]

Thank you all for your replies...

cheers

[kooyheier]

His answer was anything 300,000 pounds and above was categorized as a 'heavy'.

Not quit correct. Considering that the B757 is also classed as a heavy in the wake turbulence category...
This is due to the shape of the wing creating even worse wake turbulence than a B747.....


Cheers:cool:

[1261]

I think you'll find that the B757 is an ICAO "medium"; it's just that certain states treat it as a heavy (or in the case of the UK, an "upper medium" 'cause we like to be different).

[loubylou]

.......and then only upper medium on the approach phase - for all deps its plain ol' medium :p

louby

[Gonzo]

.......or.......is it still an Upper Medium and we just don't provide vortex separation between Upper and Lower Mediums on departure? :p

My head hurts........:{

[jovica]

Wake vortex is only a problem when aircraft are landing or departing, in en-route we have to use 5 miles anyway so wake vortex doesn't come into it.

Hmmm. Recently I had Britannia B752 on a crossing track with B744. 7NM behind and slower, however, the pilot requested climb for 500ft to “avoid wake turbulence”. It seems that they are affected en-route ass well? By the way, I’m totally confused about wake of B752. I.E. half of the FCAs B752 are category H (clearly displayed on the label) and the other half are M. Very similar situation is with BAL. Any explanation?:confused:

[Eva San]

Don't know for the UK as they have this specific upper medium thing but in France we consider a B757 as a medium when it is behind another a/c as it is below the 300.000 pound limit but as a heavy when it is ahead as its wing design creates quite a lot of wake turbulence: easy !
Hope it helps !

[catocontrol]

Even though the 757 is a medium, it should be handled as a Heavy! Just check you AIPs. It makes a nasty wake turbulence. Even greater than the Jumbo!

[EladElap]

According to the SA CAA, any aircraft in excess of 136 000 KG is classed as Heavy wake turbulence cat.

Seems like only the yanks use the term heavy after an aircraft callsign. Anyone know if this is an FAA requirement or merely to aid with ATC wake turbulence separation?

[vector4fun]

In the States now, a "Heavy" aircraft is considered any aircraft capable of takeoff weights of more than 255,000 pounds.

FAA requirement to use the word "Heavy" in the U.S. as follows:



2-4-14. WORDS AND PHRASES


b. The word "heavy" shall be used as part of the identification of heavy jet aircraft as follows:

TERMINAL. In all communications with or about heavy jet aircraft.

EN ROUTE. The use of the word heavy may be omitted except as follows:

1. In communications with a terminal facility about heavy jet operations.

2. In communications with or about heavy jet aircraft with regard to an airport where the en route center is providing approach control service.

3. In communications with or about heavy jet aircraft when the separation from a following aircraft may become less than 5 miles by approved procedure.

4. When issuing traffic advisories.

EXAMPLE-
"United Fifty-Eight Heavy."

NOTE-
Most airlines will use the word "heavy" following the company prefix and flight number when establishing communications or when changing frequencies within a terminal facility's area.

[West Coast]

"to aid with ATC wake turbulence separation?"

It does help in pilot SA to hear it, if nothing more than a reminder.

[30W]

Jovica,

Not sure why half of the FCA 757's fall into Heavy for you. One possibility may be that your ACC coding software might be using weights supplied by Eurocontrol for navigation charges etc. The 757 fleet have a range of different aircrfat max weights available (all the same aircraft in reality, but when you order from Boeing you specify a max-take off mass up to their absolute max 0f approx 113,500kg - and PAY for the more the paperwork certifies you to!).

However even at max, the 757's still fall into ICAO's Medium category - and this is what is filed on FCA flight plans. Does Serbia use a differnt split from ICAO at all? The US as pointed out takes the 757 as a Heavy because of it's vortex, and the UK further complicates issues by splitting the Medium into 2 seperate categories!!

Thanks for your en-route service by the way - it's always a pleasant transit!

30W

[foghorn]

Not only the Yanks use heavy with their callsign....

UK MATS Part 1 Appendix E 3.2.3

Aircraft in the heavy vortex wake category will include the word 'HEAVY' immediately following their callsign on initial contact with an ATC unit. The purpose of this call is to confirm the aircraft type and/or vortex category is the same as that stated on the flight progress strip.

[jovica]

30w

It is ICAO definition that is applied in Serbia all right, so 136.000 kg or more is heavy A/C. It seems that the error is generated either in our data base , in flight plan sent by IFPS (EUROCONTROL), or in flight plan data that we are receiving from adjacent units via OLDI (On Line Data Interchange). That is one lovely assignment for our Safety Management. They will sort it out in no time :uhoh:

Thank you for panegyric comment on the service provided in Beograd ACC, we are doing our best under the circumstances, and we'll continue to...

[guclu]

Can some ATC tell me if the rule of at first contact with a new ATC you have to call " xxxx HEAVY " is still in progress ?

Cause, as EladElap told, only Canadian and US controllers use it even tough you do not call them with the suffix Heavy. At european airspace I hear no one calling the controller with the suffic Heavy. (Even 740s, 340s,..)

Rgrds,

Guclu

[CaptYanknBank]

Thank you for panegyric comment on the service provided in Beograd ACC, we are doing our best under the circumstances, and we'll continue to...

panegyric had to look that one up...!!!!!!!!:O

[jovica]

panegyric!

The most polite expression I could have remember at the moment. Not that bad (I think) after all.