What is wake turbulence?

Wake turbulence refers to the disturbances in the atmosphere that are caused by an aircraft as it moves through the air. When an aircraft flies, it generates vortices due to the lift produced by its wings, creating a swirling motion of air behind it. This phenomenon can be particularly significant during takeoff and landing phases, especially for larger aircraft, as the vortices can linger in the air and pose hazards to following aircraft.

Understanding wake turbulence is crucial for airport operations and flight safety, as it can lead to loss of control for smaller aircraft that encounter these powerful air currents if they are too close behind a larger plane. Proper wake turbulence separation procedures are essential in maintaining safe distances between aircraft during their flights, particularly in busy airspaces like those around HNL Airport.

The other choices refer to different concepts unrelated to the dynamics of flight. Weather phenomena typically involve atmospheric conditions affecting visibility or precipitation, noise from aircraft relates to sound generated during operation, and runway debris pertains to physical objects that could obstruct aircraft movement on the ground.