PA.IV.G.R2dFAA-S-ACS-6C · Nov 2023Risk management
d. Wake turbulence
Effects of: d. Wake turbulence
Bottom line
Vortex strength increases proportionately with an increase in aircraft operating weight or a decrease in aircraft speed; the greatest vortex strength occurs when the generating aircraft is heavy, slow, and clean. Wingtip vortices drift with the wind at the speed of the wind; for example, a 10-knot wind causes vortices to drift about 1,000 feet per minute in the wind direction. When taking off behind another aircraft, rotate prior to the point at which the preceding aircraft rotated.
FAA references
- PHAK ch. 5 (p. 5-9) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
- AFH ch. 9 (p. 9-10) — FAA-H-8083-3C
- SEA ch. 6 (p. 6-8) — FAA-H-8083-23
- AIM 7-4-9 (Air Traffic Wake Turbulence Separations) — AIM Basic 2/20/25 w/ Change 1 (8/7/25) & Change 2 (1/22/26)
- PHAK ch. 14 (p. 14-27) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
- AIM 7-4-4 (Vortex Behavior) — AIM Basic 2/20/25 w/ Change 1 (8/7/25) & Change 2 (1/22/26)
- AIM 4-6-7 (Guidance on Wake Turbulence) — AIM Basic 2/20/25 w/ Change 1 (8/7/25) & Change 2 (1/22/26)
Build understanding you can use
Unlock the full lesson and continue studying this element.
- Full teaching sections: How it shows up; Decision rules; Mitigations; The hazard; How it shows up
- Check your understanding with answers you can reveal