When talking to air traffic controllers, pilots will add the term Heavy to the end of the flight call sign on flights involving very large aircraft. Air traffic controllers are people who operate the Air traffic control system to expedite and maintain a safe and orderly flow of air traffic and help prevent In Broadcasting and Radio communications a call sign (also known as a callsign or call letters, or abbreviated as a call, or otherwise For example you might hear this : "United 341, heavy, ready for departure". United Air Lines Inc, trading as United Airlines ( is a major airline of the United States.
This term alerts air-traffic controllers that they need to provide extra spacing between aircraft as these aircraft generate significant wake turbulence which can disrupt the flight path of the aircraft right behind. Wake turbulence is Turbulence that forms behind an aircraft as it passes through the air The term is typically used around airports as that is where the cause for concern of wake-turbulence is highest.
Some typical aircraft that use this call sign are the Douglas DC-10, Boeing 747 and Boeing 777. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout
Of special note here is the Boeing 757 which even though it might not strictly qualify as a 'heavy' from the weight point of view, is still treated as a 'heavy' by air-traffic controllers as it is notorious for its wake-turbulence generating properties due to the specific nature of its wing design, although the stretch 757-300 series is legally considered a heavy since its takeoff weight exceeds 255,000 lbs. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout
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