When landing behind a heavy aircraft, where should you aim to land?

When landing behind a heavy aircraft, the safest practice is to aim to land after the heavy aircraft has touched down. This is important due to the wake turbulence generated by larger aircraft. When a heavy aircraft is in flight, it creates a mixture of downward and sideways moving air known as wake turbulence, which can be particularly hazardous to smaller aircraft.

By landing after the heavy aircraft’s touchdown point, you decrease the risk of encountering this turbulence, which dissipates somewhat as the aircraft further moves along the runway. In most cases, authorities recommend spacing your landing adequately, giving the wake turbulence time to diminish. This strategy increases safety, allowing for a smoother landing and reducing the likelihood of losing control during the landing phase.

While landing before the heavy aircraft, at the same touchdown point, or to the side may seem like viable options, they present higher risks related to wake turbulence. It is always best to err on the side of caution to ensure safe operations in the vicinity of larger aircraft.