Taking off behind a large aircraft, plan to rotate _________ its rotation point and climb ________ its path.

• A. before & above
• B. after & below
• C. before & below
• D. after & above

Answer: (A)

Wake turbulence from a heavy aircraft can put you into strong vortices if you stay in or behind its wake. To minimize that risk when taking off behind a large aircraft, you want to depart the wake zone as early as possible and climb above the lead aircraft’s flight path. Rotating before the rotation point helps you lift off sooner, reducing the time you spend in the heavy’s wake, and climbing above its path keeps you clear of the descending wake vortices that can linger near and behind the lead aircraft. Rotating after or trying to stay below the lead’s path would place you more likely to encounter or remain in the wake, increasing the risk.