Where are you more likely to experience wake turbulence?

The potential for significant wake vortex turbulence in the cruise is greatest where an aircraft is following a similar track to another heavier one ahead that is either at the same level or the next available level above.



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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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Wingtip vortices make up the primary and most dangerous component of wake turbulence. Wake turbulence is especially hazardous in the region behind an aircraft in the takeoff or landing phases of flight. During take-off and landing, an aircraft operates at a high angle of attack.

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However, the vortex strength from an aircraft increases proportionately to an increase in operating weight or a decrease in aircraft speed. 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.

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The best seat on the plane to avoid turbulence is either over the wings or towards the front of the aircraft. The wings of the plane keep it balanced and smooth, whereas the tail of the aircraft can bounce up and down more. The closer a passenger is to the front of the plane the less turbulence they would usually feel.

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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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You should ensure that an interval of at least 2 minutes has elapsed before your takeoff or landing. En route VFR (thousand-foot altitude plus 500 feet). Avoid flight below and behind a large aircraft's path.

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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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A light quartering tailwind requires maximum caution, as it presents a worst case scenario where a wake vortex could more likely be present along the final approach and TDZ. Pilots should be alert to larger aircraft upwind from their approach and takeoff flightpaths.

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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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While pilots can't actually see turbulence, they often know what is coming up, thanks to reports from other planes, weather reports, and radar equipment. However, clear air turbulence (severe turbulence occurring in cloudless areas) can sometimes catch pilots off guard.

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Routes with the most turbulence
  • New York to London. One of the most popular routes which experience turbulence is flying from New York to London (and also London to New York). ...
  • Seoul to Dallas. ...
  • Flying into certain airports near the equator. ...
  • Flying into Reno, Nevada. ...
  • London to South Africa.


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All you see is what's outside the window. While it may feel unnerving sitting on a bumpy flight traveling hundreds of miles per hour at thousands of feet in the air, there's no reason to panic or worry. Turbulence is unavoidable. It's experienced on almost every flight to some degree (usually light).

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Summer and winter are the worst seasons for turbulence. Winter has strong winds and blizzards, and summer's hot heat can create unstable air, thunderstorms, and tropical storms. That means flying during the holidays often means more turbulence than other times of the year.

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Wake turbulence poses a major risk to other aircraft, so pilots and ATC use the term “heavy” in radio transmissions as a reminder that the aircraft's wake may be dangerous to others passing behind or below the flightpath of these larger-mass aircraft.

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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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