Under what conditions can wake turbulence be expected and how to avoid it?

AVOID THE AREA BELOW AND BEHIND THE WAKE GENERATING AIRCRAFT, ESPECIALLY AT LOW ALTITUDE WHERE EVEN A MOMENTARY WAKE ENCOUNTER COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. A common scenario for a wake encounter is in terminal airspace after accepting clearance for a visual approach behind landing traffic.



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These distances apply when one aircraft is operating directly behind (within 1/2 NM laterally) another, or is crossing behind, at the same level and up to 1000 feet below. In this same situation when the separation will be less than 2 minutes, radar controllers should issue a caution of possible wake turbulence.

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When an aircraft is flying, the wingtip vortices produced by the aircraft slowly descend behind the airplane. When the aircraft touches down, the vortices end. By flying your airplane above their flight path, and landing beyond their touchdown point, you're almost guaranteed to avoid a wake turbulence encounter.

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AVOID THE AREA BELOW AND BEHIND THE WAKE GENERATING AIRCRAFT, ESPECIALLY AT LOW ALTITUDE WHERE EVEN A MOMENTARY WAKE ENCOUNTER COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. A common scenario for a wake encounter is in terminal airspace after accepting clearance for a visual approach behind landing traffic.

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Wake turbulence is a function of an aircraft producing lift, resulting in the formation of two counter-rotating vortices trailing behind the aircraft. Wake turbulence from the generating aircraft can affect encountering aircraft due to the strength, duration, and direction of the vortices.

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Since the turbulence from a “dirty” aircraft configuration hastens wake decay, the greatest vortex strength occurs when the generating aircraft is HEAVY, CLEAN, and SLOW. In rare instances, a wake encounter could cause catastrophic inflight structural damage to an aircraft.

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Wake turbulence categories
  • Light (L) — aircraft types of 7,000 kg or less.
  • Medium (M) — aircraft types more than 7,000 kg but less than 136,000 kg; and.
  • Heavy (H) — all aircraft types of 136 000 kg or more, with the exception of aircraft types in Super (J) category; and.


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Pilots review en-route conditions before departure, which include turbulence charts. This, alongside checking with center controllers about ride conditions while in the air, helps inform pilots about the flight conditions. Unlike other forms of turbulence, wake turbulence is predictable.

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Rough air happens everywhere, from ground level to far above cruising altitude. But the most common turbulence experienced by flyers has three common causes: mountains, jet streams, and storms.

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If severe turbulence is encountered, simultaneously reduce power and adjust pitch until aircraft approaches maneuvering speed, then adjust power and trim to maintain maneuvering speed and fly away from the turbulent area.

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Wake turbulence is not just common, it's automatic. The magnitude at which it can affect another aircraft is less so and determined by how heavy an aircraft is, and how fast it is going. You can experience a low magnitude wake turbulence in a small private aircraft if you can execute a tight, level turn.

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Sometimes it's unavoidable to fly through light and moderate turbulence, but rest assured your pilots are working to find smooth air. If they encounter severe or extreme turbulence not forecasted, pilots will quickly climb or descend to a safe and smooth altitude.”

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On Monday 3 March 1997 at 1014 hours, privately owned and operated Cessna 185 encountered wake turbulence from previous departing aircraft, the pilot lost control of the aircraft at a height from which recovery was not possible and the aircraft descended to the ground.

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Wake turbulence from a large enough aircraft will cause the one following to flip and possibly crash into the ground.

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