Advanced Pilot Programs - Cliff Notes for Wake Turbulence and Wing Tip Vortices

By Sean McConnell
Last Updated: March 14th 2006

Cliff Notes

1. Avoid region within 100 feet of the vortex core.
2. The most intense vortices occur following an airliner in the clean (gear, slats and flaps up) configuration.
3. Fly one dot below the glide slope (higher approach) if following a “heavy” on the ILS.
4. Land further down the runway from where the previous “heavy” airliner landed.
5. Plan your takeoff at a point before the previous “heavy” departed.
6. On a “missed approach”, fly at best angle of climb to avoid vortices of a previous “heavy” airliner that also missed on the approach.

NOT TO BE USED IN REAL WORLD FLIGHT. NO PARTS OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE REPRINTED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR.