A BRIEF EVALUATION OF HELICOPTER WAKE AS A POTENTIAL OPERATIONAL HAZARD TO AIRCRAFT,
Abstract
A number of incidents of encounters with severe turbulence occurring in the general vicinity of operating helicopters have been reported by pilots, specifically in airport traffic situations. In relation to this problem flight tests were conducted with an airplane and a single-rotor helicopter to determine some characteristics of the helicopter wake and its possible upsetting tendencies on an airplane. A sample procedure for estimating important wake characteristics is included. Flight tests with the airplane and helicopter have shown that helicopter wake presents a potential hazard to aircraft operating near the wake. Suggested operating precautions to minimize the hazard potential of a helicopter wake include reminding pilots of aircraft following a helicopter to remain above the helicopter flight path and, if in doubt about relative positions, to extend the separation interval between aircraft. An exact time interval was not determined, but a separation estimated to be about 1 min appears to be reasonable with most of the present generation helicopters. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1962
- Accession Number
- AD0272905
Entities
People
- Andrew B. Connor
- Thomas C. O'bryan
Organizations
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration