impatience

[FlyboyBen]

No doubt this question has been asked somewhere before, but what is the general rule for separation timing between take-offs?

Yesterday, just before 5pm, a BA 757 departed from Abz. The departing 75 could only have been airbourne at between 500 and 1000ft when an IAC Bae146 started its take-off roll.

Surely you would want to wait a little longer for the turbulence from a 75 to discipate?

There were no aircraft on finals at the time which might have prompted a quick getaway so all I can assume is that there was a very impatient IAC pilot on board?

[slingsby]

Time varies between and medium/heavy aircraft. However, the tower may have given departure clearance with the separation factor being at pilot discretion. Generally for landings 4 miles is standard for light to med/heavy separation.

Another factor being the 146 has a shorter take off distance and would be airbourne before the B757, therefore his climb rate would take him away from the wake of the preceding aircraft. Also different departure SIDs may take them in different directions, allowing closer separation.

[FlyboyBen]

Indeed, the 146 did make a rather quick right hand turn shortly after take-off.