Question

Separate a heavy aircraft operating directly behind another heavy aircraft by ____ miles.

a) 3 miles
b) 5 miles
c) 7 miles
d) 10 miles

Answer 1

A heavy aircraft operating directly behind another heavy aircraft should typically maintain a minimum of five nautical miles separation.

Step-by-step explanation:

To ensure safety during flight, air traffic controllers must adhere to specific separation standards. When a heavy aircraft is operating directly behind another heavy aircraft, the minimum separation required is four nautical miles if both aircraft are on the same approach path and the trailing aircraft can stay in the leading aircraft's wake turbulence. For en route separation in most cases, however, air traffic controllers are instructed to maintain a minimum of five nautical miles.

It is essential to note that a variety of factors, including aircraft speed and altitude, can influence separation requirements, and the standards are continuously reviewed for safety improvements by aviation regulatory bodies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) globally.