AIM

8/15/19

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5

Wake Turbulence

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:

1.

Remain in the touchdown area.

2.

Drift from aircraft operating on a nearby

runway.

3.

Sink into the takeoff or landing path from a

crossing runway.

4.

Sink into the traffic pattern from other airport

operations.

5.

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.

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3

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6. Vortex Avoidance Procedures

a.

Under certain conditions, airport traffic control-

lers apply procedures for separating IFR aircraft. If a
pilot accepts a clearance to visually follow a
preceding aircraft, the pilot accepts responsibility for
separation and wake turbulence avoidance. The
controllers will also provide to VFR aircraft, with
whom they are in communication and which in the
tower’s opinion may be adversely affected by wake
turbulence from a larger aircraft, the position, altitude
and direction of flight of larger aircraft followed by
the phrase “CAUTION 

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 WAKE TURBULENCE.”

After issuing the caution for wake turbulence, the
airport traffic controllers generally do not provide
additional information to the following aircraft
unless the airport traffic controllers know the
following aircraft is overtaking the preceding
aircraft. WHETHER OR NOT A WARNING OR
INFORMATION HAS BEEN GIVEN, HOWEVER,
THE PILOT IS EXPECTED TO ADJUST AIR-
CRAFT OPERATIONS AND FLIGHT PATH AS
NECESSARY TO PRECLUDE SERIOUS WAKE
ENCOUNTERS. When any doubt exists about
maintaining safe separation distances between
aircraft during approaches, pilots should ask the
control tower for updates on separation distance and
aircraft groundspeed.

b.

The following vortex avoidance procedures are

recommended for the various situations:

1. Landing behind a larger aircraft

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 same

runway.

Stay at or above the larger aircraft’s final

approach flight path

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note its touchdown point

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land

beyond it.

2. Landing behind a larger aircraft

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 when

parallel runway is closer than 2,500 feet.

Consider

possible drift to your runway. Stay at or above the
larger aircraft’s final approach flight path

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 note its

touchdown point.

3. Landing behind a larger aircraft

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 crossing

runway.

Cross above the larger aircraft’s flight path.

4. Landing behind a departing larger air-

craft

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 same runway.

Note the larger aircraft’s

rotation point

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 land well prior to rotation point.

5. Landing behind a departing larger air-

craft

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 crossing runway.

Note the larger aircraft’s

rotation point

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 if past the intersection

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 continue the

approach

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 land prior to the intersection. If larger

aircraft rotates prior to the intersection, avoid flight
below the larger aircraft’s flight path. Abandon the
approach unless a landing is ensured well before
reaching the intersection.

6. Departing behind a larger aircraft.

Note

the larger aircraft’s rotation point and rotate prior to
the larger aircraft’s rotation point. Continue climbing
above the larger aircraft’s climb path until turning
clear of the larger aircraft’s wake. Avoid subsequent
headings which will cross below and behind a larger
aircraft. Be alert for any critical takeoff situation
which could lead to a vortex encounter.

7. Intersection takeoffs

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 same runway.

Be

alert to adjacent larger aircraft operations, particular-
ly upwind of your runway. If intersection takeoff
clearance is received, avoid subsequent heading
which will cross below a larger aircraft’s path.

8. Departing or landing after a larger

aircraft executing a low approach, missed
approach, or touch

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and

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go landing.

Because

vortices settle and move laterally near the ground, the
vortex hazard may exist along the runway and in your
flight path after a larger aircraft has executed a low
approach, missed approach, or a touch

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and

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go

landing, particular in light quartering wind condi-
tions. You should ensure that an interval of at least
2 minutes has elapsed before your takeoff or landing.