Flying in the wake of another a/c?
May 13, 2000 | 10:02 pm
#1
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Flying in the wake of another a/c?
Has anyone experienced what it is like to fly in the wake of another aircraft? While descending on a flight from BOS-LGA on Friday (12 May), the US 737-300 went through some turbulence and then did a sudden sharp roll to one side, corrected, went through some bumps and then rolled to the other side, also sharply, and then corrected.
The flight deck came on after that and announced that the a/c had flown in the wake of a (turning) aircraft. A 757 or even a 747?
The flight deck came on after that and announced that the a/c had flown in the wake of a (turning) aircraft. A 757 or even a 747?
May 13, 2000 | 10:15 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: SkyMiles MM, HHonors Gold, Avis, Hertz
Posts: 521
terenz - this happens on almost every flight into ATL b/w 6 and 9 PM on a weekday, about 5 mins out. Apparently, airport congestion in ATL is such that most aircraft at this time follow another plane's wake. First few times it was a bit unsettling, now I explain to my neighbours what happened.
May 14, 2000 | 12:24 am
#3
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Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
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I have had it in the air (with resulting moderate to severe chop) and once causing an aborted landing just over the SFO runway. Its not all that uncommon, and that's why ATC calls state "heavy" jets as well as 757s specifically, because its wake is as bad as a heavy.