Air carrier B737NG flight crew reported deviating from assigned speed on approach to SEA after they encountered wake turbulence from the preceding B737NG.
Synopsis
Air carrier B737NG flight crew reported deviating from assigned speed on approach to SEA after they encountered wake turbulence from the preceding B737NG.
Narrative
We were on vectors for an approach to Runway 34L at SEA. We had turned right base; and ATC asked us if we saw the preceding aircraft for our runway. After a short search; we saw the lights of the traffic; as well as the airport. We informed Approach Control of this; and were cleared for the visual approach; with 180 knots to the final approach fix. The First Officer was manually flying; so I used the heading bug to give us as much space from the traffic in front of us while still accomplishing a reasonable localizer intercept angle (approximately 40 degrees). As we approached JALON (the final approach fix); we noted that we were only about 2.5-3.0 miles behind the flight in front of us. At this point we encountered wake turbulence from the plane in front of us; and we agreed that we needed to start slowing down for the sake of traffic separation and safety regarding the wake. We began configuring further and slowing toward our final approach speed roughly 2 miles from the final approach fix. During this time; we heard Tower tell the plane behind us to begin slowing. They then asked about our speed; and I replied that we were slowing to our final. This occurred in the vicinity of JALON. The aircraft in front of us cleared the runway on the first high speed turnoff as we were passing through 600-700 feet AGL. We landed and made the same turnoff; as we knew traffic was close behind us. The flight behind us was also able to land uneventfully. During the taxi; we were given a phone number to call for the TRACON.
Second reporter narrative
We were on vectors for Runway 34L at SEA. We were right base and approach asked us if we had traffic in sight. After a few seconds of looking for the traffic; we told ATC we had traffic and airport in sight. Then; he cleared us for the approach and assigned us 180 knots to JALON. I was hand flying the airplane; and at this time CA (Captain) used the heading bug to give us much space from the traffic in front of us while still accomplishing a reasonable localizer angle (about 40 degrees). As we approach JALON; we noted we were only 2.5-3.0 miles behind traffic and at the same time; we encountered wake turbulence from traffic in front of us. CA and I agreed that in order to keep the right path of the aircraft; we needed to start slowing down; otherwise we were going to catch up to traffic and we were going to encounter more wake turbulence. We continued configuring the airplane and slowing down about 2 miles from the FAF. As we were doing this; we also heard Tower telling the airplane behind us to begin slowing down. The also asked what our speed was and CA replied we were slowing down. This all happened around the FAF. The airplane in front of us cleared the runway on the first high speed turnoff as were were passing through 600-700 ft AGL. We landed and made the same turnoff; as we knew traffic was behind us. The flight behind us was also able to land uneventfully.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.