Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
Cleared for takeoff behind a MD80. The Tower cleared us before the MD80 lifted off. As we were airborne we were in the wake of the MD80. [We] turned left about 10 degrees to get out of his wake [and] told ATC about what we were doing. Before he changed us over to Departure he asked if we were off the RNAV departure course. We were back on it as the course turned to the left. The Tower in ATL has been doing this a lot; clearing other aircraft for takeoff before the one in front even raised his nose off the ground. Behind a heavy they clear you with only 2 1/2 miles between you. This needs to be addressed [or] there could be a bad problem soon.
CRJ200 Captain reported wake vortex encounter departing ATL in trail of an MD80. Reporter believes ATC procedures contributed to the event.