Hi All,

I refer you to Question 4 of the PPL Examination Questions in the PPL DAY study guide

Basically, the question goes;
- 2 aircraft both MTOW 750kg
- you are lined up beginning of runway
- other aircraft has takeoff and is of same type
- runway is 1900m

What is the earliest you can commence your take-off?

The AIP ENR 1.1 para 5.5.1 states;
An aircraft will not be permitted to commence take-off until:
a. a preceding departing aircraft using the same runway has:
(4) if the preceding aircraft has a MTOW of 7,000kg or less and the following aircraft has a MTOW below 2,000kg and is slower, the preceding aircraft is airborne and is at least 600M ahead of the following aircraft.

basically. I am interpreting the word 'ahead' as when the aircraft is 600m ahead of your physical position as you are lined up on the runway. And because they will be traveling faster than you as they are already flying they will be at least 600m ahead until you takeoff.

Therefore I conclude that the answer is [c] 600M from the beginning of the runway.
NOT
[a] 600M ahead of your proposed take-off point

Could someone please point out where my logic is wrong as this question is driving me up the wall and I also got it in the online practice exams and answered the same and got it wrong.

Thank you.