Wake Turbulence Avoidance
Every aircraft generates wake turbulence while in flight. Wake turbulence is a function of an aircraft producing lift, resulting in the formation of two counter-rotating vortices trailing behind the aircraft.
Since the turbulence from a “dirty” aircraft configuration hastens wake decay, the greatest vortex strength occurs when the generating aircraft is:
- Heavy
- Clean
- Slow
Avoidance
- Landing behind a larger aircraft on the same runway or parallel runway:
- Stay at or above the larger aircraft's final approach flight path-note its touchdown point-land beyond it.
- Landing behind a departing larger aircraft on the same or parallel runway:
- Note the larger aircraft's rotation point and land well prior to rotation point.
- Departing behind a larger aircraft:
- Note the larger aircraft's rotation point, and rotate prior to that point.
- Climb above the aircraft's climb path and turn clear of the wake when able.
- Departing or landing after a larger aircraft executing a low approach, missed
approach, or touch-and-go landing:
- You should ensure that an interval of at least 2 minutes has elapsed before your takeoff or landing.
In summary, land beyond the touchdown point of a large aircraft, and takeoff before the rotation point of the larger aircraft.