B787 Dreamliner Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 225.72; Flight Crew Type 1187.33
Situational Awareness; Troubleshooting
Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
On Track E; FL360; SLOP R1 at approximately 31 West; we encountered moderate to severe CAT [Clear Air Turbulence]. Captain immediately seated flight attendants. Encounter lasted approximately 1 minute. During that time; First Officer attempted communication with Gander on HF8864 with a very garbled response. Left that frequency and transmitted on 123.45 that we were encountering moderate to severe CAT. Another aircraft stated that we had an A380 on the track ahead of us. Using ADS-B we determined [the A380] was 22 miles ahead at FL370; SLOP R2. Winds were directly right to left at 25 knots. We determined wake turbulence was likely the cause and increased our offset to R2. Air became smooth and Captain had flight attendants check in. Flight attendants reported no flight attendants or passenger injuries. Winds gradually began shifting to a direct tailwind and we again encountered moderate to severe wake turbulence. Captain immediately seated flight attendants. Because the wake was to our left and continuing towards us we increased our offset to SLOP R3. Again; First Officer attempted contact with Gander without success. Shortly thereafter we received a SELCAL and Gander asked if we were operating normally. We stated that we were SLOP R3 and he responded that ATC had seen that and that it had been 'flagged'. Captain had flight attendants check in. Again; no injuries. Winds continued to shift to a left quartering tailwind and we again encountered moderate to severe wake turbulence. Again; Captain directed flight attendants to be seated. We immediately requested [the A380] to SLOP R2 which he did. Shortly thereafter; [the A380] climbed to FL380. Captain had flight attendants check in. Again; no injuries. At this point; contrails were readily visible and we returned to R1. No further encounters.
B787 F/O reported deviating from their assigned trans-Atlantic track when they encountered wake turbulence from an A380 22 miles ahead of them. Reporter stated they were having communication difficulties with ATC.