A380 Wake seperation
 

Just seen
The first flights of the Airbus A380 have prompted the development of new wake vortex spacing requirements to be applied between the Airbus A380 and all other aircraft. The A380 is still under development and the characteristics and effects of its wake vortices are still being analysed. Notwithstanding this, proving flights have commenced resulting in ICAO providing initial guidance on vortex wake spacing to be applied based on data analysed thus far.

Departure Spacing

4.1.1 One ADDITIONAL minute shall be added to those separations currently listed in MATS Part 1 (Section1, Chapter 3 paragraph 8.6) for all departures following an A380.

4.2 Horizontal Spacing

4.2.1 When an A380 is established on final approach, 10nm shall be applied between the A380 and any other following aircraft on final approach. A minimum of 15nm radar separation shall be applied for all other phases of flight, including en-route, between an A380 and all other aircraft directly behind at the same altitude or less than 1500ft below.

4.3 Vertical Spacing
4.3.1 Other than departure, or when an A380 is established on final approach, a minimum of 1500ft vertical spacing shall be applied, where less than 15nm radar separation exists between an A380 and any other aircraft operating below it, whether following or crossing behind. For aircraft on a reciprocal track below an A380, a minimum of 1500ft vertical spacing shall be applied when the aircraft is within the area in which wake vortex is likely to be encountered.

Re: A380 Wake seperation
 

10 NM on final app?..wow,so 3 planes out from final app track in LHR,where usually a 2.5 Nm separation is provided.I guess the LHR operations must be horrified by this.
Any difference if the following plane is a 'heavy' or 'a medium' ?

Alexban

that is for any aircraft I believe. It is just the very beginning of a longish proving period.

The separation will decrease when more testing has been done