ELI5: What does it mean when air traffic control refers to a flight as "heavy"? For example, when both the pilots and ATC say "American 325 Heavy" while communicating back and forth.
Posted Apr 12, 2015, 7:29 PM UTC
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Heavy means a large jet, like a 747 or similar. There's a technical specification, based on weight, I think. But a 737 is not heavy and a 747 is, if that gives you some perspective.
The reason they make the distinction is because the "heavy" aircraft cause more air disruption (that is, their wake) and ATC needs to allow more space between them and the plane after them.
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Appreciate it!
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A "heavy" has a takeoff weight of more than 300,000 pounds.
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Ah, that's simple enough. Thanks!
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SUPER short tl;dr / ELI5 goes as follows:
If an aircraft if Capable of performing a Takeoff, with 300,000+ pounds, and IS that heavy, It will have the adder of Heavy.
Simple physics - more weight, longer to stop - Heavy's (Pootis pow!) need a larger 'bubble' of safety around them so other takeoffs / landings are spaced out to compensate.
It's why you'll sometimes here "Reduce to minimum approach speed" or "Give me your best forward speed."
Thanks! I figured it was something along those lines, but my Google-Fu was weak today.
No worries. I use to fly, only reason I could pull it off the top of my head.