FlightBlogger Archive 2007-2012

FAA turns one-eight-zero on 747-8 and 787 wake rule

Written by

Jon Ostrower

in

FlightBlogger imageIt took all of 24 hours after it was first reported the 747-8 and 787 would require larger separation distances than its predecessors. The initial rule called for 10nm separation between the aircraft, significantly more than the 4-6nm currently required for spacing. Dominic Gates of the Seattle Times was the first to report on the change.

“[The rule] was issued prematurely,” said FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown. “There were a number of errors.”

The order applied to the 787 Dreamliner and the new version of the jumbo jet, the 747-8. Brown said the two aircraft should not have been included in a single order.

A new order giving the necessary separation distances for the 747-8 will be issued in the next few days, she said. A new order for the 787 Dreamliner will not be ready for more than a week.

Not coincidentally, a pair of 747s, one -8 and one -400 are participating in wake vortex evaluations in San Bernardino and Freso. The 747-400 (N794BA), formerly of Korean Air, was commissioned by Boeing to compare the wakes of the two variants. The -400 is operating as BOE573 during its participation in the flight test campaign. The 747-8, RC503, Boeing’s fourth flight aircraft, is painted in the colors of launch customer Cargolux and has been transiting back and forth between Fresno Yosemite and San Bernardino Airports since September 27.

This post was originally published to the internet between 2007 and 2012. Links, images, and embedded media from that era may no longer function as intended.

This post originally appeared at Flightglobal.com from 2007 to 2012.

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