Medium Large Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
During approach to 36R at CLT we were instructed to slow to final approach speed because 'Heavy' traffic would be departing prior to our arrival.  We estimate we were at approximately 500-700 feet AGL when the tower cleared the Heavy to takeoff.  The aircraft was at the hold short line at that time.  The aircraft did not move very quickly at all and we started to question the spacing.  We prepared ourselves for a go around and we expected ATC would likely instruct us to go around because of the spacing.  The aircraft started its takeoff roll when we were at approximately 300-400 feet AGL. As we descended to 200 feet AGL we did not believe the aircraft was airborne and ATC had not instructed us to go around.  It was difficult for us to determine when the aircraft had lifted off because it was night. Between 100 and 200 feet AGL we started to encounter strong wake turbulence (likely from the thrust of the heavy) and decided to execute a go around.  The go around was executed and we were vectored for another approach and landing without incident. I asked the approach controller what type aircraft was ahead of us since we did not know what kind of heavy it was at that time.  They told us that it was a [type deleted] and there was 'no loss of separation'.  I spoke with the tower supervisor on the phone after landing to clarify the incident.  I did not feel that there was any possible way we could land without touching down before the heavy aircraft lifted off.  The supervisor clarified the ATC definition of required separation on the runway and stated that it would have definitely been close to the limit.Overall; I would say the cause of this event was the slow taxi onto the runway and slow takeoff roll of the heavy aircraft which caused inadequate spacing for them to get airborne before we could touch down.
Pilot reports of a go-around due to not being able to see if the departing heavy aircraft was actually airborne.