A319
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Type 1013
ATC Issue All Types; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related
We were filed into ORD on the TRTLL4 STAR. Kansas City Center cleared us direct CASHN intersection at max forward speed. We complied and cruised at .80 Mach. After the handover to Chicago Center we were given vectors off the direct we were previously cleared and a slow down to minimum forward speed. I told ATC that the speed for our altitude would be .76 M. The Controller okayed it. After two headings ranging from Southeast to Northwest and a descent to FL290 we were cleared direct to VINCA intersection. We could see ahead of us another aircraft descending at around 10 miles on TCAS. The vectors and slowdown was given to us in order for us to be positioned behind that aircraft on the TRTLL4 STAR. The flight was an MD11 aircraft as we later found out. At 10 miles behind him and FL290; we encountered moderate chop/turbulence. From experience I knew that this was wake turbulence. I immediately turned the seat belt sign on. As I prepared to make a PA announcement; the aircraft experienced a right abrupt rolling moment; to about 45 degrees. The FO was the flying pilot and autopilot 2 righted the aircraft back to level flight. I immediately asked ATC what kind of aircraft were we following and he told me that it was an MD11. I told the Controller that we experienced wake turbulence and that we need a vector off; in order to get upwind of the aircraft. The winds were from the Northwest at only 25 KTS. We were initially doubted by the ATC Controller. After I reported the event he told me 'But you have 10 miles; this is the first time I heard of something like that!' On top of that; the [MD11] pilot mocked us saying over the frequency 'Hey; why don't you offset!' as if we were in oceanic airspace! Not only were we put behind a heavy; in very light winds aloft; while the heavy descended on top of us; we were also ridiculed for experiencing wake turbulence because of the poor ATC traffic management and at the same time another pilot tried to tell us how to fly our aircraft. Completely unacceptable behavior by both ATC and [the MD11] pilot. The Controller; after giving us the vector that allowed us 15 mile separation; asked us what was the intensity of the wake turbulence and we told him exactly what we experienced.
A319 Captain reported encountering wake turbulence 10 miles in trail of an MD11.