CTO CTO Wake Turbulence & Separation Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: IFR separation behind a Heavy aircraft on the same runway approach is a minimum of how many nautical miles for a Large aircraft?
- 3 nm
- 4 nm
- 5 nm (Correct answer)
- 6 nm
Correct answer: 5 nm
A Large aircraft following a Heavy requires a minimum 5 nautical mile IFR wake turbulence separation on final approach.
Question 2: Which phrase must a controller use when issuing a takeoff clearance where wake turbulence separation is reduced at pilot's request?
- WAKE TURBULENCE WAIVED
- CAUTION WAKE TURBULENCE (Correct answer)
- CLEARED IMMEDIATE TAKEOFF
- DEPARTURE SEPARATION REDUCED
Correct answer: CAUTION WAKE TURBULENCE
When wake turbulence exists and cannot be fully avoided, controllers must issue 'CAUTION WAKE TURBULENCE' as an advisory.
Question 3: Under VFR conditions, a pilot may request waiver of wake turbulence separation. What is the controller's responsibility after such a waiver?
- Controller assumes all responsibility for the waiver
- Controller must deny the request per FAA rules
- Controller issues 'CAUTION WAKE TURBULENCE' and responsibility transfers to the pilot (Correct answer)
- Controller notifies the TRACON before approving
Correct answer: Controller issues 'CAUTION WAKE TURBULENCE' and responsibility transfers to the pilot
When a pilot requests and accepts reduced wake turbulence separation, the controller issues the caution advisory and responsibility shifts to the pilot in command.
Question 4: A departing Small aircraft follows a Heavy aircraft that rotated at the 1,000-foot mark. Where should the Small aircraft begin its rotation to avoid wake turbulence?
- At or before the point where the Heavy rotated
- Well past the point where the Heavy rotated (Correct answer)
- At the runway threshold regardless
- At the midfield point of the runway
Correct answer: Well past the point where the Heavy rotated
To avoid wake turbulence, a following aircraft should rotate beyond the point where the preceding Heavy aircraft rotated so it remains above the vortex path.
Question 5: Crosswind conditions affect wake turbulence by doing what to the vortex on the upwind side of the runway?
- Causing it to dissipate faster than the downwind vortex
- Carrying it across the runway toward the downwind side (Correct answer)
- Holding it stationary over the centerline longer
- Lifting it above the glide path immediately
Correct answer: Carrying it across the runway toward the downwind side
A crosswind can carry the upwind vortex across the runway centerline toward the downwind side, creating a concentrated hazard zone.
Question 6: The FAA's RECAT (Wake Turbulence Re-categorization) program at applicable airports is designed to do which of the following?
- Eliminate all wake turbulence separation requirements
- Replace the standard Heavy/Large/Small categories with more refined performance-based groups (Correct answer)
- Require all aircraft to use TCAS for vortex detection
- Apply only to Super category aircraft operations
Correct answer: Replace the standard Heavy/Large/Small categories with more refined performance-based groups
RECAT replaces the traditional three-category system with up to six refined categories, allowing more precise separation and improving runway throughput.
CTO CTO Wake Turbulence & Separation Standards 2
IFR separation behind a Heavy aircraft on the same runway approach is a minimum of how many nautical miles for a Large aircraft?