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Learning to Fly Amid Wake Turbulence

Although you may not be able to see them, wing tip vortices can definitely turn you into a junior stunt pilot.

Tuesday, December 03, 2024 at 01:57 PM ET

Verified

Aircraft generate wake just like boats do in the water. Unlike the water, you can't see wake in the air but should always anticipate it. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Wake turbulence is generated by any aircraft in flight, not solely by large aircraft or exclusively during takeoff and landing, and can pose a risk at any flight phase.
Pilots must employ specific strategies to avoid wake turbulence, such as departing before and climbing above a preceding aircraft's flight path, or landing beyond a preceding landing aircraft's touchdown point (or before a departing one's rotation point).
Key safety practices include accepting ATC-recommended delays, considering wind conditions that affect wake drift, and always being prepared to execute a go-around if wake turbulence is encountered or cannot be safely avoided during approach.

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“Caution, wake turbulence.”

This warning came from ATC as we were flying westbound in our mighty Cessna 172T. Ahead and east of us was a Boeing C-17 on approach to the local air base. I instructed the flight student to tighten his seat belt and slow the aircraft to maneuvering speed as a precaution, then request a 360-degree to avoid the wake. This was approved as requested. We did a standard rate turn.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.