What must a Boeing 747 maintain behind a Boeing 737 during its approach?

The correct answer indicates that a Boeing 747 must maintain a separation of 3 miles behind a Boeing 737 during its approach. This distance is important for ensuring safe air traffic management, particularly during landing phases when aircraft are closely spaced.

The reasoning behind this separation distance stems from various factors, including wake turbulence and the differing characteristics of the two aircraft types. The Boeing 737, being smaller and lighter, creates less wake turbulence compared to the larger Boeing 747, which is important for maintaining safe spacing in the approach phase. The regulation of separation distances helps to minimize the risk of loss of control due to wake turbulence, which is especially crucial when large and medium-sized aircraft are in close proximity.

In practice, air traffic controllers use established separation standards to manage traffic flow and ensure safety, particularly in busy airspace. Understanding the dynamics of aircraft types and their required separation distances is a critical aspect for trainees in air traffic control.