If you are behind a larger aircraft that is landing, where should you plan to takeoff or land?

When operating behind a larger aircraft during landing or takeoff, planning to position your own aircraft beyond the larger aircraft's touchdown point is crucial for safety. This practice helps to avoid the wake turbulence generated by the larger aircraft.

Large aircraft create wingtip vortices as they fly, which can be significantly more dangerous for lighter aircraft due to their size and weight difference. These vortices tend to sink and spread laterally to the side of the aircraft, and they can linger near the ground, especially during landing and takeoff phases.

Positioning beyond the larger aircraft's touchdown point ensures that you are clear of these potential turbulence zones as you takeoff or land. This allows for a smoother and safer operation, minimizing the risk of encountering wake turbulence effects, which could lead to loss of control or other dangerous situations.

Choosing the center of the runway, landing in line with the aircraft’s landing approach, or landing within its touchdown point does not provide the same degree of safety with respect to avoiding wake turbulence, which emphasizes the importance of the correct positioning.