Where can wake turbulence be encountered?

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Pilot Action to Mitigate Wake Turbulence Encounters: Approximately 10-30 miles after passing 1,000' below opposite-direction traffic. Approximately 10-30 miles behind and 1,000' below same-direction traffic.

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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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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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Any plane can experience turbulence, but larger planes weigh more and don't feel the impact of wind changes as much as a smaller plane. Specifically, the Airbus A380 handles turbulence very well! The A380 is a large plane mainly used for international flights.

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The middle seat in the final seat is your safest bet
The middle rear seats of an aircraft had the lowest fatality rate: 28%, compared to 44% for the middle aisle seats, according to a TIME investigation that examined 35 years' worth of aircraft accident data.

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Seats at the back of the plane tend to be bumpier, and sitting towards the back also means you're one of the last passengers to get off the plane after landing. Similarly, the bulkheads at the front of the cabin are where families with babies and young children sit.

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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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