Which scenario describes a no wake turbulence separation requirement?

• A. AAL210 MD81 departing Runway 28R and N10FD FA20 waiting to depart Runway 28R at Charlie require no wake turbulence separation
• B. No wake turbulence separation is always required
• C. Always at least 2 minutes wake turbulence separation
• D. Wake turbulence separation is always required

Answer: (A)

Wake turbulence separation is needed to keep following aircraft clear of the dangerous vortices left by heavier airplanes. But there are times when no extra wake separation is required, typically when the trailing aircraft isn’t in the wake path or there’s already enough time and distance for the vortices to dissipate before the next takeoff begins.

In this scenario, the first aircraft is departing Runway 28R and the second is waiting to depart from the same runway at a point (Charlie). Because the second aircraft isn’t starting its takeoff roll immediately behind the first and there is sufficient spacing in time and position, the wake from the first is unlikely to affect the second. Therefore, no additional wake turbulence separation is required beyond the normal sequencing.

The other options claim universal or fixed minima, which isn’t accurate—separation isn’t always required and isn’t always a fixed time or always needed.