SWA210, a B737, departs runway 28R. A C550 is waiting to depart at an intersection. What is the required wake turbulence separation?

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Multiple Choice

SWA210, a B737, departs runway 28R. A C550 is waiting to depart at an intersection. What is the required wake turbulence separation?

Explanation:
Wake turbulence separation is determined by the wake categories of the aircraft involved and is measured from the moment the leading aircraft rotates. In this case, the Southwest 737 is a Heavy, and the following Cessna 550 is a Medium. A following Medium must wait three minutes after the Heavy begins its rotation before it rotates, to ensure the wake has dissipated. The two-minute interval would apply if the follower were Light, which isn’t the case here. The four-minute figure would apply to a Light following a Heavy in some guidelines, and waiting for the follower’s rotation isn’t the rule here since separation is defined from the lead’s rotation.

Wake turbulence separation is determined by the wake categories of the aircraft involved and is measured from the moment the leading aircraft rotates. In this case, the Southwest 737 is a Heavy, and the following Cessna 550 is a Medium. A following Medium must wait three minutes after the Heavy begins its rotation before it rotates, to ensure the wake has dissipated. The two-minute interval would apply if the follower were Light, which isn’t the case here. The four-minute figure would apply to a Light following a Heavy in some guidelines, and waiting for the follower’s rotation isn’t the rule here since separation is defined from the lead’s rotation.

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