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Dragonfly Happenings...
Dragonfly Newsletter not available this month.
From The Tower...
The use of visual separation allows controllers to expedite traffic by either visually observing the aircraft themselves or by having the pilots see their traffic and provide their own spacing. When controllers provide visual separation they are observing the relative positions of aircraft and ensuring a safe distance from each other. When pilots maintain visual separation they make their own spacing and distance from other aircraft. As a pilot, when you accept the responsibility of visual separation you relieve the controller of the responsibility of separation.
Pilots will often be asked to see and maintain visual separation from aircraft when wake turbulence may be a factor or when better airspace efficiency can be achieved in the Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) environment. Of course, this means IFR flight in visual meteorological conditions (VMC). Therefore, it is incumbent upon the pilot to completely understand the ramifications of wake turbulence and how and where it is likely to be encountered.
When you are following a weight class category large, B757, a heavy aircraft or even an aircraft somewhat larger than the one you are flying, you should stay above the flight path of the aircraft and touch down beyond the preceding aircraft touched down. If you are departing behind these aircraft, you should rotate prior to the preceding aircraft's rotation point. When operating on parallel runways, wind speed and direction may also b a factor. Remember that wake turbulence is only being generated when the wing is flying or when the nose wheel is off the ground. Additionally, caution should be exercised when operating behind jets on the ground, due to jet blast.
If you cannot or do not want to accept the responsibility for separation or you lose sight of your traffic, tell the controller immediately. However, choosing not to accept the responsibility does not relieve you of the requirement to know and understand the impact of wake turbulence. Remember, as the pilot in command, you are still the final authority of the operation of your aircraft.
At Santa Rosa and many other smaller airports, the potential for this scenario to occur is somewhat rare. If you fly into larger and busier airports you can expect these options to be presented by the controller depending on the volume of traffic and the weather conditions.
Note: Dayle is the Air Traffic Manager at the Santa Rosa/Sonoma County Airport Traffic Control Tower. She has been an air traffic controller for over 20 years spending more than half of that at LAX and SNA. Dayle has also been a pilot for over 25 years and holds Commercial ratings in aircraft and helicopters as well as Instrument and CFIA. She is an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Oakland Flight Standards District Office.