Wake Turbulence

Question 1

What is wake turbulence?

Answer 1

The disturbance in the atmosphere that forms behind an aircraft as it passes through the air

Question 2

When is wake turbulence formed?

Answer 2

From the moment the a/c nose wheel lifts until thee a/c touches down again

Question 3

What is a heavy wake turbulence category?

Answer 3

136,000kg or more

Question 4

What is a medium wake turbulence category?

Answer 4

<136,000kg

>7,000kg

Question 5

What is a light wake turbulence category?

Answer 5

7,000kg or less

Question 6

Category ‘super’ is currently being considered by ICAO. What aircraft would this apply to?

Answer 6

Airbus A380. MTOW of 560,000kg

Question 7

Wake turbulence separations may be based on?

Answer 7

Time or Distance

Question 8

Time based. Aircraft landing behind a heavy or medium a/c must adhere to what time intervals?

Answer 8

Medium behind heavy: 2 mins.

Light behind heavy/medium: 3 mins.

Question 9

Similar practices apply to aircraft taking off. Minimum separation of 2 mins shall be applied to light or medium a/c taking off behind a heavy under what conditions?

Answer 9

A/c are using the same runway or parallel runways separated by less than 760m. More than 760m is the flight paths will cross at the same altitude or less than 1000ft below. A/c are using crossing runways and flight paths will cross at same altitude or less than 1000ft below.

Question 10

As above, on some occasions 3 minutes must be applied to light or medium a/c taking off behind a heavy under what conditions?

Answer 10

A/c are using an intermediate part of the runway or parallel runway separated by less than 760m.

Question 11

2 minutes may be applied to aircraft operating on a runway with a displaced landing threshold. This must also consider?

Answer 11

Arrival wake turbulence as well as departure wake turbulence.

Question 12

2 minutes shall also be applied when the heavier aircraft is making a low or missed approach and the lighter aircraft is?

Answer 12

Utilising the opposite direction runway for takeoff or landing on same runway in opposite direction.

Question 13

In distance based separation incidents, define the following applicable distance minima:
Heavy preceding heavy.
heavy preceding medium.
heavy preceding light.
medium preceding light.

Answer 13

H/H: 7.4km (4nm)
H/M: 9.3km (5nm)
H/L: 11.1km (6nm)
M/L: 9.3km (5nm)

Question 14

ATC units concerned shall not be required to apply wake turbulence separation when:

Answer 14

Arriving VFR flights landing on same runway as preceding heavy or medium a/c and between an IFR flight making a visual approach and the preceding a/c in sight has been instructed to maintain own separation.

Question 15

ATC units are often responsible for issuing a caution of possible wake turbulence. In this situation, the pilot in command is responsible for?

Answer 15

Ensuring spacing from a preceding aircraft is acceptable