Boeing 757 now plays with the Big Boys

[md_p97]

I came across a new FAA ATO Joint Order regarding classification and separations for the 757-2.

This should be of particular interest to those with radar boxes.

Order N JO 7110.504

SUBJ: Boeing 757-200 Weight Class

Purpose of This Notice. This notice addresses the dual weight class status of the
B757-200 (B752). It can be classified as either large or heavy. When the actual weight class of a B752 is unknown, separation criteria for B752 aircraft will depend on whether it is leading or following.

Background. Several operators have been refitting some of their B752 aircraft to increase their operating range. These modifications increase the maximum gross takeoff weight to approximately 255,500 pounds making these aircraft “heavy” as defined by the FAA’s weight classification system.

Operators planning flights in and out of the United States or with advanced navigation capabilities are required to file flight plans in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) format. The ICAO flight plan requires the inclusion of an ICAO Wake Turbulence Category (for example, H - Heavy, M - Medium, or L - Light), and 757s are “medium” (similar to the FAA “large”) which are filed as “B752/M.” Due to this ICAO discrepancy, operators of “heavy” B752s are unable to file as a “heavy.”


WAKE TURBULENCE APPLICATION
e. Separate aircraft operating directly behind, or directly behind and less than 1,000 feet below, or following an aircraft conducting an instrument approach by:

NOTE-
1. When applying wake turbulence separation criteria, directly behind means an aircraft is operating within 2,500 feet
of the flight path of the leading aircraft over the surface of the earth.
2. Consider parallel runways less than 2,500 feet apart as a single runway because of the possible effects of wake turbulence.
3. If the actual weight class of a B757-200 (B752) aircraft is unknown, for the purposes of applying wake turbulence separation criteria stated in this paragraph, consider the B752 aircraft as a heavy when it is the lead aircraft and as a large when it is the trailing aircraft.

1. Heavy behind heavy – 4 miles.
2. Large/heavy behind B757 – 4 miles.
3. Small behind B757 – 5 miles.
4. Small/large behind heavy – 5 miles.

f. TERMINAL. In addition to subpara e, separate an aircraft landing behind another aircraft on the same runway, or one making a touch and go, stop and go, or low approach, by ensuring the following minima will exist at the time the preceding aircraft is over the landing threshold:

NOTE-
1. Consider parallel runways less than 2,500 feet apart as a single runway because of the possible effects of wake turbulence.
2. If the actual weight class of a B757-200 (B752) aircraft is unknown, for the purposes of applying wake turbulence separation criteria stated in this paragraph, consider the B752 aircraft as a heavy when it is the lead aircraft and as a large when it is the trailing aircraft.

1. Small behind large – 4 miles.
2. Small behind B757 – 5 miles.
3. Small behind heavy – 6 miles.