Tower controller reported repeated safety concerns regarding recat procedures allowing smaller aircr...

Narrative:

While working LC1/LC2 combined I cleared [the A321] for takeoff runway xxr RNAV to zzzzz. Soon after I then put [the B737-900] in position. I knew since these were split departure gates that I could roll at 6000 ft. And airborne. While using anticipated separation I then cleared [the B737-900] for takeoff RNAV to ZZZZZ1. I estimate [the B737-900] was 1-2 miles off the departure end when he reported he was in wake turbulence from the A321 on the zzzzz track. I immediately offered a vector or a stop in his climb to help him get out of the wake. One of the pilots came back on the frequency extremely angry and said that was the worst wake turbulence he had ever experienced in his whole career. I again offered anything to help alleviate the situation. They reported clear of the [wake] and I responded to contact departure.recat has a lot of pros but sometimes I do believe safety is put at risk when it comes to the size of B737/A321. When these planes are flying all the way out west like this A321 was they're a lot heavier than flying to [east coast routes]. The B737 and A321 need to be in its own wake class. It gets scary sometimes watching a CRJ200 depart right behind B737NG going to [the west coast]. Although it's legal I don't roll that close but some people do because it says we can. Reevaluate the categories.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Tower Controller reported repeated safety concerns regarding RECAT procedures allowing smaller aircraft to take off behind heavier aircraft; leading to wake turbulence events.

Narrative: While working LC1/LC2 combined I cleared [the A321] for takeoff Runway XXR RNAV to ZZZZZ. Soon after I then put [the B737-900] in position. I knew since these were split departure gates that I could roll at 6000 ft. and airborne. While using anticipated separation I then cleared [the B737-900] for takeoff RNAV to ZZZZZ1. I estimate [the B737-900] was 1-2 miles off the departure end when he reported he was in wake turbulence from the A321 on the ZZZZZ track. I immediately offered a vector or a stop in his climb to help him get out of the wake. One of the pilots came back on the frequency extremely angry and said that was the worst wake turbulence he had ever experienced in his whole career. I again offered anything to help alleviate the situation. They reported clear of the [wake] and I responded to contact departure.RECAT has a lot of pros but sometimes I do believe safety is put at risk when it comes to the size of B737/A321. When these planes are flying all the way out west like this A321 was they're a lot heavier than flying to [east coast routes]. The B737 and A321 need to be in its own wake class. It gets scary sometimes watching a CRJ200 depart right behind B737NG going to [the west coast]. Although it's legal I don't roll that close but some people do because it says we can. Reevaluate the categories.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.

Attributes
ACN	1685334
Time
Date	201909
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A321
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Local
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 3
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter

Tower controller reported repeated safety concerns regarding recat procedures allowing smaller aircraft to take off behind heavier aircraft; leading to wake turbulence events.