Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 116
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Environment - Non Weather Related; Aircraft; Procedure
We were taking off behind an EMB-170 on 26L. ATL will routinely clear you for takeoff before the aircraft in front of you has rotated and that was the case for this takeoff as well. After we rotated and selected the landing gear to the up position; I noticed some left and right wing rocking which usually indicates wake turbulence. We were climbing out at V2+10 and suddenly we had airspeed fluctuations and received a WINDSHEAR Warning message. Following the windshear escape procedure; I followed the command bars and selected full thrust due to the low airspeed and close proximity to the ground. I believe we received the warning below 600 ft AGL. As I was following the command bars; I noticed the right engine Aircraft X was flashing red. Shortly thereafter; the warning ceased and I pulled the engines back to the flex carats and requested the autopilot be activated to alleviate workload. I monitored the engine for the rest of the flight and it all seemed normal. Once out of sterile; I informed the Dispatcher and Maintenance Control via ACARS of the event and called them arriving at the destination. While on the phone with Maintenance Control after the flight; I checked the engine exceedance log in the maintenance computer menu and it showed that the engine encountered a level 3 event for 6.9 seconds and that the peak temperature was 927degC. The Maintenance Control technician checked the GE engine manual and informed me that while it wasn't outside of limitations; to write it up and they would have local maintenance come and sign it off. The weather in ATL was not gusty and no wind shear was reported in the area.I believe ATL is clearing aircraft too close to other aircraft. Wake turbulence encounters are a threat. Despite being of a similar size; the Aircraft in front of us put off enough wake to rock the aircraft and cause airspeed deviations strong enough to activate the windshear warning system. Encountering wake turbulence in ATL is a common occurrence though it doesn't typically cause windshear warnings to go off.I think there should be either more separation or perhaps a study into whether ATL Tower is following proper spacing procedure. I feel that if we encountered the wake of a larger aircraft; the airspeed deviations could have been more severe and there is not much margin for error when you're climbing at V2+10.
Reporter emphasized his concern regarding ATL wake avoidance procedures.
CRJ-200 Captain reported encountering wake turbulence departing ATL in trail of an EMB-170.