Wake turbulence

Common card · No. 206049

Wake turbulence is a disturbance in the atmosphere that forms behind an aircraft as it passes through the air. It is primarily associated with trailing vortices generated as the aircraft produces lift, most notably wingtip vortices. Wake turbulence is especially hazardous in the region behind an aircraft in the takeoff or landing phases of flight. During takeoff and landing, an aircraft operates at a high angle of attack. This flight attitude maximizes the formation of strong vortices. In the vicinity of an airport, there can be multiple aircraft, all operating at low speed and low altitude; this provides an extra risk of wake turbulence with a reduced height from which to recover from any upset.

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