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FIG 7

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Vortex Movement in Ground Effect

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 Tailwind

Light Quartering

Tailwind

Light Quartering

Tailwind

Tail Wind

Tail Wind

Touchdown Point

Touchdown Point

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5.  Operations Problem Areas

a.

A wake turbulence encounter can range from negligible to catastrophic.
The impact of the encounter

depends on the weight, wingspan, size of the generating aircraft,
distance from the generating aircraft, and point

of vortex encounter. The probability of induced roll increases when the
encountering aircraft's heading is

generally aligned with the flight path of the generating aircraft.

b.

AVOID THE AREA BELOW AND BEHIND THE WAKE GENERATING AIRCRAFT,
ESPECIALLY

AT LOW ALTITUDE WHERE EVEN A MOMENTARY WAKE ENCOUNTER COULD BE

CATASTROPHIC.

NOTE

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A common scenario for a wake encounter is in terminal airspace after
accepting clearance for a visual approach behind

landing traffic. Pilots must be cognizant of their position relative to
the traffic and use all means of vertical guidance to

ensure they do not fly below the flight path of the wake generating
aircraft.

c.

Pilots should be particularly alert in calm wind conditions and
situations where the vortices could:

Remain in the touchdown area.

Drift from aircraft operating on a nearby runway.

Sink into the takeoff or landing path from a crossing runway.

Sink into the traffic pattern from other airport operations.

Sink into the flight path of VFR aircraft operating on the hemispheric
altitude 500 feet below.

d.

Pilots should attempt to visualize the vortex trail of aircraft whose
projected flight path they may encounter.

When possible, pilots of larger aircraft should adjust their flight
paths to minimize vortex exposure to other

aircraft.

Wake Turbulence

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