---
title: "SERA.8012 Application of wake turbulence separation — ANNEX: Rules of the Air, SERA · Avioverse"
description: "Air traffic control units shall apply wake turbulence separation minima to aircraft in the approach and departure phases of flight in any of the…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/sera/annex-rules-of-the-air/section-8/sera-8012"
---

# SERA.8012 Application of wake turbulence separation

ANNEX: Rules of the Air · Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

IR Implementing rule

## SERA.8012 Application of wake turbulence separation

(a) [Air traffic](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/air-traffic) control units shall apply wake turbulence separation minima to [aircraft](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) in the approach and departure phases of flight in any of the following circumstances:

(1) an aircraft is operating directly behind another aircraft at the same [altitude](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/altitude) or less than 300 m (1 000 ft) below it;

(2) both aircraft are using the same [runway](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/runway) or parallel runways separated by less than 760 m (2 500 ft);

(3) an aircraft is crossing behind another aircraft at the same altitude or less than 300 m (1 000 ft) below it.

(b) Paragraph (a) shall not apply to arriving [VFR](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/vfr) flights and to arriving [IFR](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/ifr) flights executing visual approach when the aircraft has reported the preceding aircraft in sight and has been instructed to follow and maintain own separation from that aircraft. In those cases, the [air traffic control unit](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/air-traffic-control-unit) shall issue caution for wake turbulence.

IR · SERA.8012 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · Regulation (EU) 2020/469 · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC1 SERA.8012 Application of wake turbulence separation

CATEGORISATION OF [AIRCRAFT](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/aircraft) FOR THE PURPOSES OF WAKE TURBULENCE SEPARATION MINIMA APPLICATION Wake turbulence separation minima should be based on a grouping of aircraft types into four categories according to the maximum certificated take-off mass as follows:

(a) SUPER (J) — aircraft types listed as such in ICAO Doc 8643 ‘Aircraft Type Designators’, latest edition;

(b) HEAVY (H) — all aircraft types of 136 000 kg or more, with the exception of aircraft types covered in point (a);

(c) MEDIUM (M) — aircraft types of less than 136 000 kg but more than 7 000 kg; and

(d) LIGHT (L) — aircraft types of 7 000 kg or less.

AMC · AMC1 SERA.8012 — Regulation (EU) No 923/2012 · ED Decision 2024/007/R · SERA Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 26 Aug 2025

[All rules in SECTION 8 Air traffic control service](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/sera/annex-rules-of-the-air/section-8)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 26 Aug 2025, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.