EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
During arrival to IAH ATC informed us several times that we were in trail of a heavy Airbus A380 by roughly 12 miles. The wind was steady from left to right and overall the flight was smooth. At around 7000 the wind slowly shifted to a direct headwind and we encountered the Airbus's wake. The aircraft rolled smoothly but quickly to around 50 degrees; kicking off the auto pilot. It then quickly rolled the other direction and we lost a few hundred feet. The First Officer was flying; he recovered all control and I told him to take up a heading off the airway while I communicated with ATC. We requested vectors off the airway to arrival while still following the Airbus. The FO stayed half a dot high on the glide slope and the landing was uneventful.The wake turbulence was continuously broadcast by ATC and despite the warning we were still too close. Threats included loss of roll control; loss of altitude control and a heading deviation. It may be useful to separate the A380 from normal airways and altitudes or increase separation minimums from other traffic. Another option could be to have in trail aircraft fly above the A380 assigned altitude (7200) as well.
Reporter expressed additional concern that current spacing procedures behind super-jumbo aircraft are not sufficient.
EMB-145LR Captain reported his aircraft rolled 50 degrees after encountering wake turbulence in trail of an A380.