A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict
General None Reported / Taken
Chart Or Publication; Airspace Structure; Procedure
I recently was vectored within 3 miles of a 757 on landing at ATL while flying an A320. I questioned the spacing and was told this was the new normal. I called the Approach Facility and was told that the FAA has changed the definition of aircraft for wake turbulence. The Controller was surprised we didn't know about it as the Controller thought all the airlines were made aware.This is the FAA order:http://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/order/7110.659a_wake_recat_order_final_format.pdfThe following paragraph from the FAA order needs to be changed to keep S-80/B-737/A-320 type aircraft away from 757 type aircraft. d. Category D Aircraft capable of a MTOW less than 300;000 LBS and a wingspan greater than 125 FT and less than or equal to 175 FT; or; aircraft capable of a MTOW greater than 41;000 LBS with a wingspan greater than 90 FT and less than or equal to 125 FT. This order should never been allowed to go into effect without feedback from 'users'. The FAA needs to change paragraph d. to remove the ability to mix 757 and 737 aircraft.
An A320 Captain noted that ATL TRACON vectored his aircraft 3 miles in trail of a B757 because a recent FAA Order 7110.669A change reduced separation for certain aircraft categories.