Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

When taking off behind a large jet airplane, the primary concern is the wake turbulence generated by the jet, particularly the wingtip vortices created as it ascends. These vortices can pose a significant risk to smaller aircraft, especially during takeoff and landing phases when they are operating at lower speeds and altitudes.

Being airborne prior to reaching the jet's flight path allows the pilot to gain altitude and thus minimize the chances of encountering the jet’s wake turbulence. When the smaller aircraft takes off and becomes airborne before reaching the same altitude as the departing jet, it places itself in a position that is less likely to intersect the wake turbulence created by the jet. This is especially critical because wingtip vortices tend to sink and drift laterally away from the aircraft's flight path as they propagate.

In this scenario, turning clear of the wake as soon as possible is vital for maintaining safety. The timing of the lift-off gives the pilot the ability to climb away from the potential turbulent air left in the wake, significantly reducing the risk of turbulence encounter.

While extending the takeoff roll without elevating the aircraft before reaching the jet's flight path may initially seem safer, it does not reduce the risk of encountering vortices, as the aircraft may still be susceptible