Near field study of vortex attenuation using wing-tip blowing

The trailing vortex wake shed by large transport aircraft not only has detrimental effects on their aerodynamic efficiency through the production of induced drag but can cause a considerable safety hazard to smaller following aircraft. This hazard is a major factor in determining the minimum allowable spacing between aircraft during airport operations with separations of up to five nautical miles being required between heavy aircraft and smaller aircraft following them on the approach for landing. It has been estimated that the minimum safe operating distance based on considerations other than vortex wake hazard is approximately two nautical miles’. The potential economic saving from the reduction in operating times at busy airports as well as the improvement in aerodynamic efficiency has led to the investigation of many schemes for the alleviation of these trailing vortices.