B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
Cleared to take off from LAX RWY 25R. [The preceding A321] had not even lifted off. After liftoff flew into their wake turbulence at approximately 700 ft and then 1300 ft. Full left aileron deflection [was required] to keep control of the aircraft. LAX Tower procedures are extremely dangerous. Because we are a Class D aircraft they are allowed to anticipate the preceding aircrafts liftoff and cleared us to takeoff. They are legal because [the A321] was not a heavy. Additionally; we were doing the ORCKA 3 and [the A321] was doing the LAX 1 departures. Their initial turn over the shoreline was 221 and ours was 236. Conveniently we were 15 degrees apart which also allows them to clear us to takeoff as the preceding aircraft is lifting off. We flew into their wake as we entered the overcast at 700 ft. It rolled us uncontrollably to the right and took full left deflection to regain control. It happens again at approximately 1200 feet. We regained control and continued our climb out. This is a bad procedure to allow aircraft to take off while the preceding aircraft has yet to lift off. Go back to the old separation rules.
B737-800 pilot reported encountering wake turbulence at low altitude departing LAX in trail of an A321. Reporter expressed concern about the procedure allowing ATC to clear an aircraft for takeoff when the preceding aircraft is still on the takeoff roll.