Question

With winds reported as from 300° at 4 knots, you are given instructions to taxi to runway 30 for departure and to expect to take off after an airliner, which is departing from runway 35L. What effect would you expect from the airliner's vortices?

1) The crosswind will prevent lateral movement of the vortices.
2) The winds will push the vortices into your takeoff path.
3) The downwind vortex will rapidly dissipate.

Answer 1

With winds from 300° at 4 knots and taxiing to runway 30, you can expect the winds to push the vortices from an airliner departing from runway 35L into your takeoff path, making option 2 the most likely effect of the airliner's vortices on your takeoff.

Step-by-step explanation:

Effect of Airliner's Vortices on Takeoff

When considering the effect of an airliner's vortices on your takeoff, it is essential to understand that vortices tend to move laterally across the ground in the direction of the prevailing wind. Given winds from 300° at 4 knots, and you taxiing to runway 30 for departure, expect the airliner's vortices from runway 35L to drift into your path. Since runways 30 and 35L are not perfectly aligned, and the wind is coming from 300°, option 2 is the most likely scenario - the winds will push the vortices into your takeoff path. This is critical to take into account to ensure safety during your takeoff roll, especially when operating in the vicinity of larger, heavier aircraft.

It's also important to note that while a crosswind can affect the movement of the vortices, it does not necessarily prevent lateral movement. The vortices may still move across the ground but at a different rate or in a different direction because of the wind. One must also be aware that the downwind vortex does not necessarily dissipate rapidly; it depends on various factors, including wind strength, temperature, humidity, and surface features.