"Caution wake turbulence"
 

Have heard the phrase "caution wake turbulence" used on CTAFs by medium category turboprops a number of times recently. It is usually directed at light aircraft (LSAs etc)

I'm undecided whether it falls into the category of good airmanship or if it's in the same basket as "pending clearance," "this time" and "copied no traffic."

Thoughts?

In another life I used to fly a medium category helicopter.

At the start of my career - as a lowly PPL I would never have thought a chopper would generate that amount of wake turb.

I used give lighties following me in the circuit a heads up.

Better I take up 2 seconds of CTAF time rather than have to start up again and medivac some punters out of their busted up sportstar or Jabiru....Three words - much more efficient.

I once heard an aircraft on the CTAF give an advisory that there were snakes on the runway, and some wag says:

"Caution, snake turbulence."

Completely unnecessary. A bit of hand on dick syndrome I suspect.
If there is an issue it should be dealt with by training not by a "medium category turboprop" driver. Definitely in the in the same basket as "pending clearance," "this time" and "copied no traffic."

Oh I don't know, I imagine a C150 following a Q400 close behind might be in for some wake turbulence......

It would be very wise for the professional in the Q400 to warn the C150 behind.

Good airmanship I would think and just plain old common courtesy from one Pilot to another.

OK so the new rule is- if your flying a heavier category aircraft than the following when you depart you make sure you advise the following aircraft "caution wake turbulence". F$%%^K my brown dog!
e.g "Tiger 123 rolling runway 25 GAFFA QLink 234 beware wake turbulence"

Nanny state gone mad.

What happened to basic aeronautical knowledge? I would think that good airmanship would mean one is aware that all aircraft aircraft produce wake turbulence, and the bigger the aircraft the more severe the wake turbulence. Or has 'good airmanship' been re-defined to mean more quack on the radio?
As RENURPP said; intercourse with my brown canine!

This is, after all, where people come to ask what they should use to write on a Maintenance Release...

I didn't say that I would advise the Aircraft behind, I never operate anything bigger than a PA 28 into Un controlled Airports so it's not something I thought of.

However if someone wants to warn a Pilot behind them in some circumstances then I don't have a problem with that.

I was told this in a light twin once lining up behind a departing q400. I just assumed it was some sort of company policy they were adhering to.:confused:

Captain Sand Dune, you're right, what a wank, especially that ATC lot who seem to have to say it all the time...I mean everyone should automatically know better.

I'm with the other camp, I think it's not a bad idea, definitely not a "Wank" or "Big Noting" probably a few guys who have seen a couple of lighties line up behind them not thinking about the ramifications of what they're doing, but only if there is actually someone else behind you about to line up and/or land otherwise why bother?

I am thinking it is the typical Aussie policy of catering to the lowest common denominator. Frankly I am sick of it and would welcome some suggestions of some "smart" comebacks.

Good airmanship is keeping radio calls inline with what's written in the AIP.

Seconded.


The really annoying thing about these "brilliant ideas" is that they tend to get copied and propagated by so many.

I've told a few lighties in the past who are insistent on following very closely behind me in the Q400 'just be aware, we give out a lot of wake'. But only when, as mentioned in previous posts that the light plane driver isn't really taking the wake stuff into consideration. I don't think guys say it as a wank thing on purpose - it's that missing thing in aviation...what is it again? Oh yeah - AIRMANSHIP!

Ask the Rex cadets at Wagga how much wake the Q400 provides. You'll find the answers pretty entertaining.

Fuel-Off :ok:

Careful, they're both in the same wake turbulence category :}

Good airmanship, involves thinking of others.

Wake isn't something most lighties are used to considering, and it won't become second nature, until they have a wake incident.

They are that frightening!....and I was in the aircraft generating the wake...never gave it another thought outside of exams...until that 10 seconds!

A reminder to think cannot possibly be negative...can it??

I rest my case.

What, are we paying by the word for the use of the radio these days?

In the grand scheme of things, the 2 seconds to utter a small phrase costs almost nothing to f#%k all, and may provide a substantial benefit (was it a Mooney at Wagga that got tipped up by a C-130 some years ago?) to someone. Really though, I get the impression that this whole thing is like 2 bald guys arguing over a comb...

if we are going down this track then so what. I have taken off behind jets in same category same weight and got a good ride from their wake so why not tell everybody? better safe then sorry, doesn't cost anything to say it.

Caution wake turbulence, caution I experienced light turbulence through 300 feet, blah blah blah its all free :* Hands on dicks!

Caution - wake turbulence.

Caution - low speed can lead to stalling.

Caution - maintain a lookout.

Caution - clouds in the sky.

Caution - you might be stupid, and it's my job to protect you from yourself.



This is why CASA is like it is. Many Australian pilots seem to want to protect us all from ourselves in the unlikely event that we are terminally stupid. :(

O8 - dash 8 driver.