Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 1807; Flight Crew Type 304
Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
[We] were behind an A330 with approximately 12 miles of in trail separation; based on my recollection from the range rings on TCAS. We were flying the same route [from departure airport] and had departed behind this aircraft. We had at least 5 miles of separation between us and the A330 when we departed. While climbing through FL210 we began to experience a buffet that I initially thought was light chop. Within a few seconds after that; the aircraft had slowly begun to bank right; and the Captain and I both thought that perhaps we were losing aileron control. However; when the aircraft reached approximately 30 degrees of right bank and the autopilot failed to correct the problem; my Captain correctly disengaged the autopilot and attempted to hand fly the aircraft back into a level flight attitude. It was then that we began getting rocked with left and right banks as we apparently encountered wake turbulence from the A330. After regaining control of the aircraft; we started climbing again. Then; at FL230 or so; we began to experience the same symptoms yet again; only more violently. At this point; and after consulting with the Captain; I asked for a reroute around the A330; which was authorized. No further instances of turbulence occurred after this point. The FAA may need to re-examine wake turbulence separation criteria for the enroute environment. 12 miles was simply not enough at this altitude. The CRJ-200 handles turbulence quite well; but had we been in a CRJ-700 or CRJ-900; the encounter could have been even more violent (assuming the larger wingspan of those airframes would have still subjected it to wake turbulence).
CRJ-200 First Officer reported encountering wake turbulence climbing through FL210 12 miles in trail of an A330.