A vortex-generating device is presented to reduce a thermal exposure of an aircraft to hot exhaust gases discharged from an aircraft engine. The engine also discharges cold air from a fan of the engine. The aircraft engine may be coupled to the aircraft via a support mast located on a main wing. A portion of the support mast of an aircraft engine is located near a hot gas flow being discharged from the engine. The vortex-generating device is positioned on a surface of the support mast. The device generates a vortex which crosses the hot gases and prevents the hot gas flow from reaching a heat sensitive portion of the support mast. This device is adaptable to the operating conditions of an already-built aircraft without any notable increased weight.