Airline Transport Pilot Written Knowledge Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

When flying behind a larger aircraft, the potential for wake turbulence is a critical factor to consider. Wake turbulence refers to the disturbed air that is created by the passage of an aircraft, especially the wingtip vortices generated by larger aircraft. These vortices can pose a significant risk to smaller aircraft flying in close proximity, as they can cause sudden and severe changes in altitude and control difficulties.

Larger aircraft produce stronger wake turbulence due to their size and weight. This turbulence can linger in the air for considerable distances still behind the aircraft and can be especially dangerous during landing and takeoff phases when aircraft are flying at lower altitudes and slower speeds. Therefore, understanding wake turbulence and maintaining a safe distance behind larger aircraft is essential for ensuring flight safety and mitigating potential risk.

While the speed of the larger aircraft, weather conditions, and flight altitude differences are all important factors in flight operations, they do not have the same immediate risk implications that wake turbulence presents when flying directly behind a larger aircraft.