M03 controller described a loss of wake turbulence separation when the frequency transfer to mem tow...

Attributes
ACN	1072756
Time
Date	201303
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	M03.TRACON
State Reference	TN
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A310
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Final Approach
Route In Use	Visual Approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Departure Approach
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

Working arf during the company's mid inbound. The B777; air carrier Y was on final; cleared for the visual approach and talking to memphis tower. Air carrier X was also on final; cleared for the approach and I thought I had switched him to memphis tower as well. When my supervisor asked if I was still talking to the A310; air carrier X; and did I have 4 miles; I stated 'he's talking to the tower; I don't know' then went back and tried to switch him to the tower again. He answered with contacting the tower. When I put up the splat T; it was less than the 4 miles needed since the B777 is a B weight category. I'm not sure there's really any sort of recommendation to solve this. The recat wake turbulence standards are all new and something we're still getting used to. If anything; maybe move the letters that indicate the category some where else. The B is easy to read as a RNAV heavy aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: M03 Controller described a loss of wake turbulence separation when the frequency transfer to MEM Tower was uncertain; the reporter suggesting new RECAT identifiers/information for the Data Blocks.

Narrative: Working ARF during the Company's mid inbound. The B777; Air Carrier Y was on final; cleared for the visual approach and talking to Memphis Tower. Air Carrier X was also on final; cleared for the approach and I thought I had switched him to Memphis Tower as well. When my Supervisor asked if I was still talking to the A310; Air Carrier X; and did I have 4 miles; I stated 'He's talking to the Tower; I don't know' then went back and tried to switch him to the Tower again. He answered with contacting the Tower. When I put up the splat T; it was less than the 4 miles needed since the B777 is a B weight category. I'm not sure there's really any sort of recommendation to solve this. The RECAT wake turbulence standards are all new and something we're still getting used to. If anything; maybe move the letters that indicate the category some where else. The B is easy to read as a RNAV Heavy aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.

M03 controller described a loss of wake turbulence separation when the frequency transfer to mem tower was uncertain; the reporter suggesting new recat identifiers/information for the data blocks.