That invisible threat…
For many pilots that operate out of large airports, the ATC advisory “Caution, Wake Turbulence”, is frequent on the airwaves. Pilots learn during flight training that the violent wake vortices from a large, jet aircraft are to be given a wide berth. The turbulence is behind the aircraft and descends below its flight path. It can be affected by wind so generally “behind and below” a larger aircraft is just someplace most of us flying light airplanes should avoid.
Here is a recent AOPA article that highlights the devastating consequence of encountering this turbulence and the reminder that flying at nearly full speed into such turbulence is a recipe for disaster…
Piper Saratoga suffers mid-air structural failure after wake-turbulence encounter
Fly safe and always keep your vigilance up when operating around big airports and large aircraft!
