View Full Version : Wake turb. B737-800
alatriste
11th Aug 2003, 06:39
Winglets reduce wingtip vortices and thereby induced drag so that specific range is increased.
If the above statement is true, Why 737-800 is considered a "heavy" for separation porpouses if its weight is well below 136.000 Kg? Winglets should reduce the power of their wingtip vortices and, therefore, the wake turbulence behind it.
Thanks again.
Who does consider it a heavy? :confused:
alatriste
11th Aug 2003, 17:36
We have received few weeks ago instructions from our company to consider B737-800 as a "heavy" for traffic separation during take off and aproach manouvers. I guess this recomendation is caused by some recently incident. Anybody out there know about this restriction?
If nobody is considering 737-800 as H, IŽll better check with my company.
avioniker
12th Aug 2003, 00:44
The NG wing without winglets is very similiar to the 757 wing which produces incredible vorticies. Maybe that has something to do with it.
Here's a picture:
http://www.b737.org.uk/winglets.htm
Yes, but 757's vortices have been officially recognised as dangerous, and the separation increased from 3 to 4 miles for a medium, while heavy is 5 nm.
Haven't seen so far anything official about 737NG.
Let me know if I missed something, thanks!
avioniker
12th Aug 2003, 22:25
The 757 got the "rating" after the FAA did smoke trail tests with the FAA's 727 (with wingtip mounted smoke generators) flying ahead of a 757 and watching the patterns off the 757 wing vorticies.
I don't think the 727 is still equipped so I'm sure the 737 hasn't been tested. (yet) ;)