Jet blast is an often overlooked yet critical factor in airport operations. Generated by the engines of passenger and cargo aircraft, these isolated pockets of high-velocity wind can damage equipment, disrupt operations, and pose serious risks to ground personnel. Its management is essential for ensuring both safety and efficiency at airports.
The Shifting, Unseen Challenge
Jet blast occurs during key aircraft maneuvers such as takeoff, taxiing, and power-up. The sheer force of these concentrated air streams is powerful enough to overturn ground support equipment, damage infrastructure, or even flip small aircraft. For personnel working in the apron environment, exposure to jet blast can result in severe injuries.
While airline pilots and ground crews are trained to minimize these risks, designers often find it challenging to account for jet blast in their plans. Unlike visible infrastructure or vehicles, jet blast is both invisible and variable, making its reach and impact harder to assess without specialized tools.
Strategies to Identify and Reduce Jet Blast Risk
Aircraft manufacturers provide static jet blast charts, which depict wind velocities at various power settings. However, these charts are not easily integrated into design workflows, requiring manual interpretation and often leaving gaps in understanding. Without proactive analysis, jet blast risks can go unnoticed until after designs are implemented, leading to potential safety hazards or costly redesigns. Additionally, as new aircraft models are introduced with varying engine configurations, it becomes increasingly important for airports to adapt their strategies to accommodate these changes.
Managing jet blast effectively requires a combination of operational strategies and advanced planning techniques. In some cases, physical barriers such as blast fences are installed to protect high-risk areas. These barriers can shield equipment and personnel from the brunt of jet blast, particularly in zones like remain-over-night (RON) pads or apron areas with frequent activity. Operationally, airports may implement rules to limit engine thrust during taxiing, but in more recent times, due to the high cost of aviation fuels, airlines have adopted the practice of single engine operation during breakaway and taxiing procedures which creates far longer jet plumes. i.e., greater impact than twin-engine operation.
Visualizing Dynamic Jet Blast Impact Areas
Advanced software tools such as AviPLAN, provide a means to model and visualize jet blast impact areas. Unlike static charts, these tools allow designers to simulate dynamic scenarios, including the effects of increased thrust during taxiing and apron turning maneuvers.
For example, an airport undergoing a terminal expansion may need to shift daily operations to a ramp area normally reserved for overnight stops. This change introduces regular operations into an area where airplanes are normally towed to and from the stand, hence, minimal jet blast risk. By using modeling software, designers can simulate the jet blast impacts for large groups of aircraft types in a single simulation, ensuring that potential risks are identified and mitigated before the new layout is set into operation.
Such a scenario is the modeling of jet blast for new generation narrow-body aircraft with large engines, such as the Boeing 737-MAX 10. While these jets can create significant wind velocities during power-out operations, the modern engines are more efficient and often less critical than older models, so the group/fleet analysis is still the safest bet. Simulation tools can reveal which airplanes are most critical and what impact their blast would have on nearby stands, equipment, or personnel. In cases where risks are identified, adjustments can include modifying apron layouts, enforcing thrust restrictions or the implementation of TaxiBots during departures. By addressing these challenges early in the design phase, airports can avoid operational disruptions and ensure safer environments for both workers and passengers.
Operational Gains of Proactive Jet Blast Management
Another critical consideration is the growing complexity of airport operations. As traffic levels increase and airports handle increased movement and larger aircraft, the potential for jet blast impact hot spots grows. Effective management of these risks not only protects people and assets but also supports smoother operations by reducing delays caused by safety concerns. Airports that proactively address jet blast are better positioned to adapt to future demands, maintaining both safety and efficiency as air travel continues to evolve.
Proactively managing jet blast also enhances collaboration among stakeholders. Visualizations generated by modeling tools enable clear communication between designers, airport operators, and airlines. These shared insights support informed decision-making and streamline the implementation of safety measures. Furthermore, incorporating jet blast analysis into routine planning fosters a culture of safety and innovation, ensuring that airports remain at the forefront of operational excellence.
Jet blast: A Powerful Yet Manageable Force
Although jet blast is invisible, its impacts are tangible and potentially dangerous. Ignoring it can lead to equipment damage, personnel injuries, operational inefficiencies, and downtime. Through advanced modeling, airports can better develop operational measures, and define correct placement of physical barriers, to effectively manage jet blast risks. The result is a safer, more efficient environment where the challenges of jet blast are addressed long before they pose a threat.
If you are interested in learning more about AviPLAN’s full capabilities, feel free to get in touch.