How many minutes must a Category I aircraft conducting a touch-and-go wait from the time a Category H aircraft takes off?

A Category I aircraft conducting a touch-and-go must wait a specific duration after a Category H aircraft takes off to ensure adequate separation. The prescribed wait time is crucial in maintaining safety and preventing wake turbulence encounters, as larger aircraft like those classified as Category H produce significant wake turbulence.

The correct answer indicates that a Category I aircraft must wait three minutes. This interval allows for the dissipation of any wake turbulence from the larger Category H aircraft, providing the small aircraft sufficient time to resume operations safely after the larger aircraft has departed. Understanding these separation times is fundamental for air traffic controllers to manage airspace efficiently and safely, especially during high-traffic scenarios.

The other options suggest shorter wait times, which do not adhere to the safety protocols established for air traffic, especially in the context of varying aircraft sizes and their respective wake turbulence characteristics.