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A B737-400 captain encountered wake turbulence at vr from the preceding md-80. The captain feels ATC procedures are a factor in encounters like these.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1000670 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201203 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001-0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | DFW.Airport |
| State Reference | TX |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737-400 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Takeoff |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Takeoff |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter |
Narrative:
At vr (153 KTS); we encountered a significant jolt similar to an engine seizure; but was in fact wake turbulence from the md-80 that was on upwind. Our aircraft swiftly shifted right then left as I began rotating with both main gears still on the runway. I continued the rotation and climb and we experienced one other; albeit much less significant; wake turbulence roll encounter. Dfw tower was using the all too common technique of clearing one aircraft to take-off while the preceding aircraft has yet to rotate; using the absolute minimum standard of separation and requesting visual contact by the pilot (also used regularly at las and phx to name a few). I believe that controllers have been misled to believe that if the aircraft ahead of you is of the same class; that you will not encounter wake turbulence. This is simply not the case; especially when the aircraft ahead of you is out-climbing you; which was our situation as we were near our maximum take-off weight. I am thankful that my main landing gear will still on the runway; as our experience could have been quite different had we just left the runway and experienced a roll event so close to the ground. I do not believe this technique to be acceptable nor safe and will no longer report the preceding aircraft in sight in order to get proper separation.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B737-400 Captain encountered wake turbulence at Vr from the preceding MD-80. The Captain feels ATC procedures are a factor in encounters like these.
Narrative: At Vr (153 KTS); we encountered a significant jolt similar to an engine seizure; but was in fact wake turbulence from the MD-80 that was on upwind. Our aircraft swiftly shifted right then left as I began rotating with both main gears still on the runway. I continued the rotation and climb and we experienced one other; albeit much less significant; wake turbulence roll encounter. DFW Tower was using the all too common technique of clearing one aircraft to take-off while the preceding aircraft has yet to rotate; using the absolute minimum standard of separation and requesting visual contact by the pilot (also used regularly at LAS and PHX to name a few). I believe that controllers have been misled to believe that if the aircraft ahead of you is of the same class; that you will not encounter wake turbulence. This is simply not the case; especially when the aircraft ahead of you is out-climbing you; which was our situation as we were near our maximum take-off weight. I am thankful that my main landing gear will still on the runway; as our experience could have been quite different had we just left the runway and experienced a roll event so close to the ground. I do not believe this technique to be acceptable nor safe and will no longer report the preceding aircraft in sight in order to get proper separation.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.