What should a pilot do to avoid wake turbulence when departing behind a large aircraft?

To avoid wake turbulence when departing behind a large aircraft, it is crucial to become airborne before reaching the rotation point of the larger aircraft. This practice helps reduce the risk of encountering the wake turbulence generated by the larger aircraft, which can affect smaller planes during their takeoff.

When a large aircraft takes off, it generates significant wake turbulence, particularly in the form of wingtip vortices that can persist for some time and drift with the wind. By ensuring that your aircraft becomes airborne before reaching the point where the large aircraft has rotated, you are effectively distancing yourself from these turbulent air currents. This is especially important since wake turbulence tends to descend and spread laterally from the flight path of the larger plane.

Waiting for clearance before departing, climbing immediately after takeoff, or departing in the same flight path as the large aircraft may not adequately address the risks posed by wake turbulence. These actions might still place the smaller aircraft within the potential influence of wake turbulence, which can lead to challenging flight conditions. Therefore, the choice to take off before the large aircraft's rotation point is the most effective strategy for ensuring a safe departure in such circumstances.