A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
Upon arrival at MEM; ATIS included the notation that 'RECAT Wake Turbulence Separation Standards In Effect.' Unsure of what that meant; crew queried ATC and received an explanation. ATC planned to sequence our flight for arrival 3.5 NM behind a Heavy MD-11. ATC complied with our request for additional spacing but informed us that had they been busy; our request would not have been accommodated and we would have been placed on the approach 3.5 miles behind the heavy aircraft. Cause; The FAA has apparently decided that current spacing is too conservative and that more aircraft can be handled with reduced spacing. Suggestions; while 3.5 NM behind a Heavy aircraft might seem like a good idea from a desk in Washington; in the real world; that appears to compromise safety. It also appears problematic that ATC would reject a pilot request for additional spacing based on these arbitrary standards.
MEM air carrier arrival expressed concern regarding the RECAT Wake Turbulence Separation being utilized.