A320 flight crew reported encountering wake turbulence climbing through FL250 15 miles in trail of a B787.
Synopsis
A320 flight crew reported encountering wake turbulence climbing through FL250 15 miles in trail of a B787.
Narrative
While climbing through approximately FL250; we experienced a turbulence event of greater than moderate intensity. We experienced 2 severe jolts spaced approximately 2-3 seconds apart. My FO (First Officer) and PF (Pilot Flying) immediately announced; 'My aircraft' and instinctively slowed the aircraft from M.79 to M.75. I asked the FO to advise ATC while I contacted the FAs (Flight Attendants). My #2 and #4 FA's where in their jump seats with their seat belts on. My #1 FA was attending to her First Class customers and was unharmed. The seat belt sign was on. No known injuries to crew or passengers.ATC advised my FO that a B787 was 15 miles directly ahead of us and suggested we offset our course 5 miles right. We did so immediately and there were no more wake turbulence events during the remainder of our flight. Note: There was no observed convective activity on either WSI or the aircraft radar at the time of the encounter.As soon as I reconfirmed the safety and status of my FA's via inter-phone; I made a reassuring PA to my passengers about the wake turbulence event and the steps we had taken on the flight deck to avoid any future encounters.I asked the FO to continue as PF while I contacted Dispatch. I advised Dispatch of our turbulence encounter and that I would be making a logbook entry upon arrival. During my cruise flight lavatory break; I asked the FA if any of the passengers had expressed concerns about our turbulence encounter. She replied that everyone she spoke to was grateful that I had made a calming and reassuring PA.Upon arrival at the gate and checklist complete; I stood in the doorway with my #1 FA to say goodbye and address any passenger concerns. Only positive feedback was received from the deplaning passengers.Upon exiting the aircraft; I advised the Crew Chief of the required maintenance inspection before the next flight. Assuming that the turbulence event was caused by the B787; I would suggest increasing the in-trail spacing from 15 to 20 miles.
Second reporter narrative
While climbing between FL250 and FL260; at Mach 0.78 - 0.79; we experienced greater than moderate turbulence. I was PF (Pilot Flying). After the second jolt; I announced; 'My Aircraft;' in accordance with [Company procedures]. I slowed the aircraft from approximately Mach 0.79 to Mach 0.75 initially. Once satisfied that the aircraft was under control; the Captain asked me to assume the radios in addition to flying duties so he was able to check on our flight attendants and passengers. While he was off the radios; I reported the encounter to ATC. ATC stated that we were fifteen miles behind a B787 on the same routing and offered an offset. I slowed the aircraft further back to Mach 0.73 and accepted the offset. We offset our flight path south by five miles. The Captain told me there were no reported injuries to flight attendants or passengers. He asked me to continue both flying and radio work as he spoke to Dispatch and Maintenance. The Captain made a logbook entry about the encounter upon landing. He also alerted the station about the logbook entry and maintenance inspection.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.