B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 112
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; 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 in cruise flight over IPL VOR at FL370 when ATC called and informed us that our climb to FL390 would be delayed due to an A380 Airbus overtaking us on the left side at FL390. I acquired the A380 visually and watched as its flight path crossed over the top of us from left to right. Because ATC had cautioned us on wake turbulence; the First Officer (FO) and I discussed the situation. Our flight path was diverging from the A380; the winds at our altitude were off our left wing at 67 knots; we were two thousand feet below and the A380 was pulling away from us. Comfortable with these factors; we remained on our current course. Once the A380 had moved out in front of us; ATC cleared us to climb to FL380. The A380 was about eight to nine miles in front of us and diverging from our course. After a while; ATC cleared the A380 direct to EWM VOR. The A380 made a slight right turn to EWM and was diverging further from our flight track. Shortly thereafter; ATC cleared us to climb to FL390. After leveling off at FL390; I checked the winds; which were still off our left wing at 61 knots. Although we were co-altitude with the A380; I felt comfortable with the situation because the A380 was moving further right of our flight track. A short time later; ATC cleared us direct to ELP VOR. Although we were to the left of the A380's flight track; the clearance to ELP VOR required a turn to the right; which put us about 15 miles in trail. I checked the winds and noticed that they were now a quartering tailwind. Just as I was about to discuss the situation with the FO; we encountered the A380's wake turbulence. It initially started as choppy turbulence and then the aircraft rolled to the left. Although the FO tried to counter the roll; the ailerons were ineffective in returning the aircraft back to level flight. I estimate that the aircraft rolled about 30 to 35 degrees angle of bank.  We also lost about 400 feet; which was due in part to the turbulence and the FO trying to keep the aircraft from rolling any further. I immediately contacted ATC and informed them that we were encountering the A380's turbulence and needed a descent and turn. ATC gave us a right turn to a heading of 120 degrees (about 30 degrees) and a descent to FL370. Shortly after starting our turn and descent; the turbulence subsided. We continued on the 120 heading until we felt we had enough of an offset. ATC then cleared us back direct ELP VOR and we continued without any further incident.
Level at FL370; we noticed that we were following an Airbus 380 that was at FL390. We noticed that the winds were a direct left to right crosswind at about 40 knots. We were considering that due to wake turbulence. Once the A380 was between 10 and 15 miles in front of us; the Controller told us to climb and maintain FL390. This was the same altitude the A380 was flying. As soon as we leveled; our aircraft violently banked to the right roughly somewhere between 20 and 40 degrees of bank and shook the plane. I tried to correct the bank with the yoke and the ailerons were ineffective. The autopilot disengaged automatically and; in attempt to regain control of the aircraft; I realized I did have elevator control so I descended to get out of the wake turbulence. The Non-Pilot Flying was making ATC aware of the descent and reason. At 38;600 feet I regained control of the aircraft and leveled the plane. We asked for more spacing behind the A380.The loss of altitude was not a Pilot error. It was necessary to control the plane. Our mileage needed to be much farther behind an aircraft of that size to begin with.
B737-700 flight crew report encountering wake turbulence in trail of an A380 at FL390 that resulted in a 35 degree roll that could not be countered by ailerons.