Wake Turbulance Advisory

Pilots must exercise extreme caution if there’s any possibility of wake turbulence from a heavier airplane (or helicopter!). There’ve been two accidents at Kalaeloa (JRF) Airport since December 2023, so we’ve have lost focus on the absolute necessity of treating wake turbulence with the utmost respect.

We’ll provide a very brief review but a detailed study of wake turbulence is beyond the scope of this Notice. Accordingly, pilots are encouraged to review this vital topic and also discuss it with their CFIs. 

Per the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: “Wingtip vortices are greatest when the generating aircraft is “heavy, clean and slow”…most commonly…during approaches or departures…To minimize the chances of…wake turbulence: 1) Avoid flying through another aircraft’s flight path; 2) Rotate prior to the point where the preceding aircraft rotated; 3) Avoid following another aircraft…within 1,000 feet below their flight path; 4) Approach…above a preceding aircraft’s flightpath and touch down past the point (where) the other aircraft wheels contacted the runway.

Helicopter vortices should be avoided because helicopters…can generate exceptionally strong wake turbulence…small aircraft should avoid a hovering helicopter by at least three rotor disk diameters.

Wind is important…in avoiding wake turbulence because vortices drift with the wind…10 knots (wind speed) causes the vortices to drift at about 1,000 feet in a minute…If a pilot is unsure of the other aircraft’s takeoff or landing point, approximately 3 minutes provides a margin…that allows wake turbulence dissipation.  For more info…see Advisory Circular (AC) 90-23, Aircraft Wake Turbulence.”

POC ; Ryan Torres;  Ryan.E.Torres@faa.gov; phone (808) 688-3105