Air Traffic Control Developmental
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Human Factors; Procedure
[City] was IFR and Final West was split off and busy. Center called and APREQ'ed Air Carrier Y stopped at an altitude above Air Carrier X while continuing to fly the ground track of the arrival. The aircraft were an exact tie at the entry fix to my airspace. To split the aircraft up; so both could descend; I turned Air Carrier X; the slower aircraft; to heading 060 with a descent to 4;000 FT and slowed them to 220 KTS. I then turned Air Carrier Y to heading 040 and used altitude separation until they were established on diverging courses; then descended him to 4;000 FT. I switched the heavy to final West who turned Air Carrier Y to heading 030 and slowed them to 210 knots. I observed this and when I had more than 5 miles separation I turned Air Carrier X to heading 340 to pass well behind the heavy. I observed Air Carrier X pass behind Air Carrier Y's wake turbulence with more than 5 miles separation. I was later informed Air Carrier X called to complain and ask why they had been vectored in the wake of a heavy. [I] recommend Center review the LOA between Center and TRACON and comply with the LOA; especially during peak traffic times.
TRACON Controller described a pilot filed NMAC event while vectoring successive departure aircraft; one aircraft vectored behind a heavy B747; reporter claiming appropriate separation existed.