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Ia-1125 flight crew reported a wake vortex encounter at FL390 with an A380 that passed in front of them. The resulting turbulence caused a 250 ft loss of altitude.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1165944 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201404 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZME.ARTCC |
| State Reference | TN |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | IAI1125 (Astra) |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Route In Use | Direct |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Aircraft 2 | |
| Make Model Name | A380 |
| Flight Phase | Cruise |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Captain |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 55 Flight Crew Total 15000 Flight Crew Type 500 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | First Officer Pilot Not Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Commercial |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 45 Flight Crew Total 6600 Flight Crew Type 410 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter |
Narrative:
While in cruise at FL390; center advised 'caution; wake turbulence from an airbus 380 super crossing from left to right; at FL400'. After establishing visual contact with the traffic; I requested a temporary lower altitude until passing behind the traffic. We were advised that was not available due to additional traffic at FL380. Within a minute; we encountered wake turbulence from the A380. Our plane rolled left; pitched down and the autopilot disconnected. After manually stabilizing the aircraft; the altimeter was observed to be 250 ft below assigned altitude. After climbing back to FL390 and re-engaging the autopilot; center asked us to verify our altitude. We did so; which was then level at FL390. I believe an earlier traffic-alert from memphis center would have provided us with sufficient time to have asked for a turn off-course; thereby enabling us to avoid the wake turbulence.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: IA-1125 flight crew reported a wake vortex encounter at FL390 with an A380 that passed in front of them. The resulting turbulence caused a 250 FT loss of altitude.
Narrative: While in cruise at FL390; Center advised 'Caution; wake turbulence from an Airbus 380 Super crossing from left to right; at FL400'. After establishing visual contact with the traffic; I requested a temporary lower altitude until passing behind the traffic. We were advised that was not available due to additional traffic at FL380. Within a minute; we encountered wake turbulence from the A380. Our plane rolled left; pitched down and the autopilot disconnected. After manually stabilizing the aircraft; the altimeter was observed to be 250 FT below assigned altitude. After climbing back to FL390 and re-engaging the autopilot; Center asked us to verify our altitude. We did so; which was then level at FL390. I believe an earlier traffic-alert from Memphis Center would have provided us with sufficient time to have asked for a turn off-course; thereby enabling us to avoid the wake turbulence.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.