Originally Posted by violist
If you are lucky enough to be a UA flyer and get to listen to Channel 9,
you'll find that almost never is a 757 designated "heavy" any more (though
I heard some such in the '90s). There is, as you implied, special mention
"caution wake turbulence" when a 57 is going past, though.
During the enroute the phrase "heavy" is normally dropped from the callsign as all aircraft require the same amount of spacing from one another. During the approach phase more room is required behind larger aircraft due to wake turbulence. The 757 is not a true heavy because it weighs in under 255,000lbs but the wing puts of as much wake as "heavy" aircraft