In answer to a growing constraint problem at a increasing number of airports, Europe this year may introduce new rules on wake vortex sepa ration aimed at potentially freeing up valuable capacity at the slot-constrained facilities. The policy, still in the final stages of development, will assess several years of research to better understand the turbulence an aircraft leaves in its trail and how these disturbances are affected by such environmental conditions as crosswinds. Although specifics remain to be sorted out, Paul Wilson, head of airport operations and environment at Eurocontrol, says a 5-8% increase in capacity could result at slot-constrained airports.
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