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In accordance with ICAO Doc. 4444, what is the minimum radar separation for wake turbulence when a LIGHT aircraft follows a MEDIUM aircraft, using the same runway, in either approach or departure phases of flight?

  • A
    2 NM
  • B
    3 NM
  • C
    4 NM
  • D
    5 NM

Refer to figure.
Learning Objective 010.07.02.08.02: State the wake-turbulence separation minima.
Source: ICAO Doc 4444, Chapter 5, 5.8 Time-based wake turbulence longitudinal separation minima; ICAO Doc 4444, Chapter 8, 8.7.3.4 (table of distance-based wake turbulence separation minima) and 8.7.3.4.1 (appropriate conditions for application)

As the question is asking for radar separation, we use the table of distance-based wake turbulence separation minima, in the annex above.

This is easy to remember, as there is an easy and logical pattern to the radar separation, starting at 6 NM for the worst scenario (LIGHT following HEAVY), reducing by 1 NM for each larger aircraft category also following HEAVY; 5 NM for MEDIUM following HEAVY, and 4 NM for HEAVY following HEAVY.

The other scenario that needs to be covered is LIGHT following MEDIUM, which is easy to remember, as it is just 1NM knocked off the LIGHT following HEAVY separation above, so 6 NM - 1 NM = 5 NM.

Given the easy layout of the table, it is usually either best to memorise some of these numbers and the pattern they fall in, or just memorise the whole table. "SUPER" heavy aircraft are not covered in this table.

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