Wake Turbulence Question

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HankPilot2002 wrote:
I was level at 1500' MSL and ATC announced a Gulfstream bizjet crossing from my
right to left, 3000' MSL less than a mile lateral distance. I had my
instrument student do a 360 for wake turbulence separation and dissipation.
ATC questioned my actions and told me the 360 wasn't necessary.

BTW: I was in Class Echo airspace in southern Maine.

I havent been instructing all that long but this did seem to me to be a classic
wake turb encounter in the making. I am interested in hearing from other
pilots and CFII's on this subject. Was I over cautious ? Or prudent.....


Hank

I'll take a crack at it...

Let's say the Gulfstream was IFR, and was level. Judging by
your level altitude, you were VFR. Either way, you still have the
1000ft vertical separation, regardless of lateral separation, so doing
a 360 wouldn't have mattered for separation. As long as you had him in
sight, and being (assumed) VFR, you could maintain visual separation.
In that instance, the 360 wouldn't have been needed.

Let's now say that the Gulfstream was climbing. He was going to
be crossing your path above you, which may mean that you would catch
the underside of his wake before the tail end of it after his climb. In
that instance, you could have done a 360 to avoid the wake altogether,
then continue. But once again, It wouldn't have been needed, as you had
vertical separation of over 1000ft.

Overcautious? yes. But better to be over than under. You would
have been fine, but as CFII, you would have been in the best position
to make the call. Judging that this post happened after your flight,
you walked away from the flight. Which means you lived. Therefore,
your call was a good one.

BL.
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