Narrative:

Our most recent report from flight operations asked us to report past wake turbulence reports. I've had numerous incidents in the last yr. The above was the worst. In the above report I was being vectored for an ILS to runway 22L in ewr. I was following an aircraft (B757) 1000 ft below him -- 4 mi behind. ATC failed to tell me his type, I failed to ask. I was on autoplt level at 5000 ft MSL and started a roll to the left (30 degrees) and abruptly to the right (60 degrees). During the ride I disconnected the autoplt and recovered. I'd also like to note that ATC (controllers) seem not spooled up on wingtip vortices. During takeoff they issue caution, but get upset and often penalize when I ask for 2 min delay. They very seldom give 5 mi separation during an approach (VFR/IFR). We have to ask as to what type aircraft are following and ask for 5 mins if its a 757. I feel that as a general rule the controllers really do not understand the term 'caution wake turbulence.' callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated he was captain and the PF the md-80. He said the aircraft rolled about 30 degrees one way and then about 70 degrees from level the other way. He said he had other wake encounters but nothing like this. The pitch and yaw there was some but he did not notice how much. He said he disconnected the autoplt at first indication like during the 30 degree roll and flew the airplane out of the 70 degree roll. He said he had only partial control of his roll. The whole event was probably less than 5 seconds. The other pilot was not on the controls. The airplane responded to his control inputs after the wake encounter as he expected. He does not believe he disconnected the autothrottles. He said he wishes ATC would alert pilots when they are placed in trail of a 757.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR ENCOUNTERS BOEING 757 WAKE TURB.

Narrative: OUR MOST RECENT RPT FROM FLT OPS ASKED US TO RPT PAST WAKE TURB RPTS. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS IN THE LAST YR. THE ABOVE WAS THE WORST. IN THE ABOVE RPT I WAS BEING VECTORED FOR AN ILS TO RWY 22L IN EWR. I WAS FOLLOWING AN ACFT (B757) 1000 FT BELOW HIM -- 4 MI BEHIND. ATC FAILED TO TELL ME HIS TYPE, I FAILED TO ASK. I WAS ON AUTOPLT LEVEL AT 5000 FT MSL AND STARTED A ROLL TO THE L (30 DEGS) AND ABRUPTLY TO THE R (60 DEGS). DURING THE RIDE I DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AND RECOVERED. I'D ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT ATC (CTLRS) SEEM NOT SPOOLED UP ON WINGTIP VORTICES. DURING TKOF THEY ISSUE CAUTION, BUT GET UPSET AND OFTEN PENALIZE WHEN I ASK FOR 2 MIN DELAY. THEY VERY SELDOM GIVE 5 MI SEPARATION DURING AN APCH (VFR/IFR). WE HAVE TO ASK AS TO WHAT TYPE ACFT ARE FOLLOWING AND ASK FOR 5 MINS IF ITS A 757. I FEEL THAT AS A GENERAL RULE THE CTLRS REALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE TERM 'CAUTION WAKE TURB.' CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED HE WAS CAPT AND THE PF THE MD-80. HE SAID THE ACFT ROLLED ABOUT 30 DEGS ONE WAY AND THEN ABOUT 70 DEGS FROM LEVEL THE OTHER WAY. HE SAID HE HAD OTHER WAKE ENCOUNTERS BUT NOTHING LIKE THIS. THE PITCH AND YAW THERE WAS SOME BUT HE DID NOT NOTICE HOW MUCH. HE SAID HE DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPLT AT FIRST INDICATION LIKE DURING THE 30 DEG ROLL AND FLEW THE AIRPLANE OUT OF THE 70 DEG ROLL. HE SAID HE HAD ONLY PARTIAL CTL OF HIS ROLL. THE WHOLE EVENT WAS PROBABLY LESS THAN 5 SECONDS. THE OTHER PLT WAS NOT ON THE CTLS. THE AIRPLANE RESPONDED TO HIS CTL INPUTS AFTER THE WAKE ENCOUNTER AS HE EXPECTED. HE DOES NOT BELIEVE HE DISCONNECTED THE AUTOTHROTTLES. HE SAID HE WISHES ATC WOULD ALERT PLTS WHEN THEY ARE PLACED IN TRAIL OF A 757.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.