Narrative:

I, as captain of air carrier X, was flying aircraft on approach to runway 12R at sat. On vectors to airport for approach to runway 12R, an air carrier aircraft on frequency gave PIREP as base at 1300 ft MSL tops ragged. I remember ATIS as 800 overcast 2 broken. Our aircraft was cleared for approach runway 12R, approach speed 144 KIAS, IMC. During the approach, an air carrier Y flight XXXX was cleared for takeoff. Controller stated that an air carrier Y cleared for takeoff, caution wake turbulence. I remembered thinking, 'great, a B757 cleared and I'm landing.' at less than 2 NM and approximately 800 ft AGL, we broke out to see the aircraft in position for takeoff. Aircraft had previously been cleared for takeoff and the controller again said 'air carrier Y cleared for takeoff, begin your takeoff now.' aircraft remained in position another 5-8 seconds -- probably running a checklist. When seeing the aircraft there, I remembered thinking, 'ok, where is my out for a missed approach?' at this point, I was uncomfortable, yet did not execute a missed, and I continued my approach. As air carrier Y finally broke ground we were just over runway threshold at what appeared less than 1 NM. With the exception of turbulence on landing, it was uneventful. I questioned the controller about separation and he very defensively stated, it was greater than 6000 ft and that was legal, he stated 'if you have a problem with it I'll give you a phone number.' I was angry with the fact I didn't immediately execute a missed approach and also with his comment, it was legal. Whether legal or not, I question 'his' judgement in clearing an aircraft with known wake turbulence procedures with another aircraft that close on approach. I discussed this situation with my crew and at 3 differing points on approach, one of us felt uncomfortable, yet none of us said one word about it. Lets hear it for flying all night and being tired.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CAPT OF A CARGO B727 COMPLAINS ABOUT TWR CTLR CLRING HIM TO LAND TOO CLOSE TO A B757 TAKING OFF, FOR FEAR OF WAKE TURB.

Narrative: I, AS CAPT OF ACR X, WAS FLYING ACFT ON APCH TO RWY 12R AT SAT. ON VECTORS TO ARPT FOR APCH TO RWY 12R, AN ACR ACFT ON FREQ GAVE PIREP AS BASE AT 1300 FT MSL TOPS RAGGED. I REMEMBER ATIS AS 800 OVCST 2 BROKEN. OUR ACFT WAS CLRED FOR APCH RWY 12R, APCH SPD 144 KIAS, IMC. DURING THE APCH, AN ACR Y FLT XXXX WAS CLRED FOR TKOF. CTLR STATED THAT AN ACR Y CLRED FOR TKOF, CAUTION WAKE TURB. I REMEMBERED THINKING, 'GREAT, A B757 CLRED AND I'M LNDG.' AT LESS THAN 2 NM AND APPROX 800 FT AGL, WE BROKE OUT TO SEE THE ACFT IN POS FOR TKOF. ACFT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CLRED FOR TKOF AND THE CTLR AGAIN SAID 'ACR Y CLRED FOR TKOF, BEGIN YOUR TKOF NOW.' ACFT REMAINED IN POS ANOTHER 5-8 SECONDS -- PROBABLY RUNNING A CHKLIST. WHEN SEEING THE ACFT THERE, I REMEMBERED THINKING, 'OK, WHERE IS MY OUT FOR A MISSED APCH?' AT THIS POINT, I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE, YET DID NOT EXECUTE A MISSED, AND I CONTINUED MY APCH. AS ACR Y FINALLY BROKE GND WE WERE JUST OVER RWY THRESHOLD AT WHAT APPEARED LESS THAN 1 NM. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TURB ON LNDG, IT WAS UNEVENTFUL. I QUESTIONED THE CTLR ABOUT SEPARATION AND HE VERY DEFENSIVELY STATED, IT WAS GREATER THAN 6000 FT AND THAT WAS LEGAL, HE STATED 'IF YOU HAVE A PROB WITH IT I'LL GIVE YOU A PHONE NUMBER.' I WAS ANGRY WITH THE FACT I DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY EXECUTE A MISSED APCH AND ALSO WITH HIS COMMENT, IT WAS LEGAL. WHETHER LEGAL OR NOT, I QUESTION 'HIS' JUDGEMENT IN CLRING AN ACFT WITH KNOWN WAKE TURB PROCS WITH ANOTHER ACFT THAT CLOSE ON APCH. I DISCUSSED THIS SIT WITH MY CREW AND AT 3 DIFFERING POINTS ON APCH, ONE OF US FELT UNCOMFORTABLE, YET NONE OF US SAID ONE WORD ABOUT IT. LETS HEAR IT FOR FLYING ALL NIGHT AND BEING TIRED.

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.