Reporter states the minimum wake turbulence separation applied between small and heavy aircraft is 5...

Narrative:

There exists in the en route environment potential for catastrophe. In the terminal environment minimum separation for a small behind a heavy (including B757) is 6 NM. In the en route environment the minimum separation for a small behind a heavy is 5 NM. By the way, ARTCC's do own all the way to the ground in numerous locales where this situation could happen, so this would cover the argument concerning landing phase configns. My argument is if minimum safe distance is 6 NM for an approach controller to use on final (landing environment or otherwise) why then isn't the en route controller required to provide the same distance? The regulation clearly state that 6 NM is required for terminal only. I believe it was 'assumed' ARTCC controllers wouldn't be controling aircraft in these categories where wake turbulence would become a factor. Wrong! Incidentally ARTCC 'own' all of the terminal airspace too, it's delegated to them and ARTCC's must be ready to assume their airspace during an emergency condition. If in fact it turns out that ARTCC's are required to use 6 NM then let me say it's not being done! Please pursue this matter! I feel someone may lose control and die before it is properly addressed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: RPTR STATES THE MINIMUM WAKE TURB SEPARATION APPLIED BTWN SMALL AND HVY ACFT IS 5 MI IN THE ENRTE ENVIRONMENT WHEREAS THE MINIMUM FOR THE TERMINAL ENVIRONMENT IS 6 MI. RPTR FEELS THE 6 MI SHOULD APPLY TO BOTH ENVIRONMENTS.

Narrative: THERE EXISTS IN THE ENRTE ENVIRONMENT POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHE. IN THE TERMINAL ENVIRONMENT MINIMUM SEPARATION FOR A SMALL BEHIND A HVY (INCLUDING B757) IS 6 NM. IN THE ENRTE ENVIRONMENT THE MINIMUM SEPARATION FOR A SMALL BEHIND A HVY IS 5 NM. BY THE WAY, ARTCC'S DO OWN ALL THE WAY TO THE GND IN NUMEROUS LOCALES WHERE THIS SIT COULD HAPPEN, SO THIS WOULD COVER THE ARGUMENT CONCERNING LNDG PHASE CONFIGNS. MY ARGUMENT IS IF MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCE IS 6 NM FOR AN APCH CTLR TO USE ON FINAL (LNDG ENVIRONMENT OR OTHERWISE) WHY THEN ISN'T THE ENRTE CTLR REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE SAME DISTANCE? THE REG CLRLY STATE THAT 6 NM IS REQUIRED FOR TERMINAL ONLY. I BELIEVE IT WAS 'ASSUMED' ARTCC CTLRS WOULDN'T BE CTLING ACFT IN THESE CATEGORIES WHERE WAKE TURB WOULD BECOME A FACTOR. WRONG! INCIDENTALLY ARTCC 'OWN' ALL OF THE TERMINAL AIRSPACE TOO, IT'S DELEGATED TO THEM AND ARTCC'S MUST BE READY TO ASSUME THEIR AIRSPACE DURING AN EMER CONDITION. IF IN FACT IT TURNS OUT THAT ARTCC'S ARE REQUIRED TO USE 6 NM THEN LET ME SAY IT'S NOT BEING DONE! PLEASE PURSUE THIS MATTER! I FEEL SOMEONE MAY LOSE CTL AND DIE BEFORE IT IS PROPERLY ADDRESSED.

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.

Attributes
ACN	346016
Time
Date	199609
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zdc
State Reference	DC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : nzj
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : radar pilot : private
Experience	controller military : 6 controller non radar : 6 controller radar : 12
ASRS Report	346016
Events
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Publication	Unspecified

Reporter states the minimum wake turbulence separation applied between small and heavy aircraft is 5 mi in the en route environment whereas the minimum for the terminal environment is 6 mi. Reporter feels the 6 mi should apply to both environments.