EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
While descending through 10;000 on the PRTZL3 into IAD we got moderate wake turbulence from a heavy jet in front of us. As a result I climbed and turned 20 degrees off course. We were able to get delay vectors back on course and returned on the arrival. ATC said that we were 12 miles in trail and asked if maybe it was just some turbulence. I had the TCAS band on 5 miles. I estimated the heavy jet to be about 7 miles ahead of us. I'm 100% sure it was wake turbulence. Give us more separation and let us know when we are following heavy traffic. I find that wake turbulence is more of a problem on descents and not so much on approach. Seven miles with a 20 knot head wind is not enough space.
An ERJ-170 Captain reported encountering moderate wake turbulence following a heavy jet into IAD.