When landing behind a large aircraft, plan to land ______ its touchdown point.

• A. before
• B. after
• C. alongside
• D. above

Answer: (B)

Wake turbulence from a large aircraft is the key factor here. The wingtip vortices it leaves behind can linger and drift into the area where you’re landing, making the approach unstable if you touch down in or near those disturbed air. By planning to land after the preceding aircraft’s touchdown point, you position yourself to land in cleaner air with more margin to react if a residual vortex affects your airplane. This safer spacing helps ensure a smoother roll-out and reduces the risk of being disturbed by the other aircraft’s wake. Landing before it touches down, alongside, or above would place you in or near the wake or in unsafe proximity to the other aircraft’s maneuver, which is not advisable.