What is a recommended action when taking off or landing behind a large aircraft?

When taking off or landing behind a large aircraft, it is recommended to request at least three minutes before departing or landing. This guideline is primarily in place to ensure safety by allowing sufficient time for the wake turbulence generated by the larger aircraft to dissipate. Large aircraft produce significant wake turbulence, which can pose a risk to smaller aircraft during takeoff and landing phases.

By requesting a time delay of at least three minutes, you provide an opportunity for this turbulence to clear the area, reducing the chances of an encounter that could lead to loss of control or other dangerous situations. This practice is essential for maintaining safe separation in busy airspace and is particularly important in environments such as airports where multiple aircraft are operating concurrently.

In contrast, simply increasing cruising altitude or asking for immediate clearance does not directly address the hazards associated with wake turbulence. Switching to the CTAF frequency for updates is useful for situational awareness but does not specifically mitigate the risks associated with large aircraft wake turbulence during critical phases of flight.