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Experiencing severe turbulence while flying can be incredibly frightening. A recent incident on a flight in Australia resulted in crew members being transported to the hospital.
Over the past year, there have been multiple occurrences, including eight passengers needing medical aid after their flight was hit while traveling to Portugal and a British Airways plane encountering intense turbulence over the Bay of Bengal, causing pilots to turn back to their departure airport and resulting in injuries for several cabin crew members.
Even experienced airline passengers may occasionally feel uneasy due to turbulence during the flight, but in most cases it is nothing to worry about and is simply a small disturbance to your in-flight meal.
We examine the factors behind turbulence, address frequently asked questions, and explore the possibility of it causing an aircraft to crash.
What is turbulence?
Turbulence is the result of swirling pockets of “unstable air,” similar to rough waves on the ocean. The Federal Aviation Administration describes clear-air turbulence (CAT) as unexpected and violent turbulence in areas without clouds, which can cause significant disturbance to aircraft. This type of turbulence is particularly problematic as it often catches pilots off guard and lacks visual cues to indicate its presence.
Turbulence can be attributed to three primary causes: thermal conditions, mechanical disruptions, and shear forces. Thermal turbulence occurs when warmer air rises through cooler air, while mechanical turbulence is caused by obstructions such as mountains or man-made structures. Shear turbulence is the result of two air masses moving in opposing directions at their boundary.
This causes the airplane to ascend and descend, as well as sway from left to right.
Each year, a large number of aircrafts encounter significant turbulence, resulting in the aviation industry losing up to $1 billion due to flight delays and damage to aircraft structures.
Is turbulence normal?
This is a common occurrence. While it may be unsettling, modern planes are built to endure significant amounts of turbulence.
Pilots are typically aware of upcoming turbulence by monitoring weather and radar reports. In the event of encountering choppy air, they communicate with air traffic control as well as other pilots on the same route. They then notify passengers and adjust the plane’s speed to a lower speed specifically designed for flying through turbulence. This helps to minimize potential damage to the aircraft and ensures a more comfortable ride for passengers.
Is there an increase in turbulence?
Global warming is responsible for disturbances in various levels of the atmosphere, with an observed 15 percent increase in wind shear in the jet stream since 1979, as reported by Dr. Paul D Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading.
According to his research, clear-air turbulence is expected to increase by over 100% in the mid-Northern Hemisphere by the middle of the century. This will have an impact on commonly used flight paths such as New York-London and San Francisco-Tokyo.
Is it possible for me to get hurt from turbulence?
There are actually fewer incidents caused by turbulence than one may expect. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States reports an average of 33 injuries per year over the past 16 years, with only 17 reported in 2017. With 2.6 million passengers flying in and out of US airports daily, or 959 million annually, the likelihood of experiencing injury from turbulence is relatively low.
What is the optimal action to take when experiencing turbulence?
Follow the example of pilots and make sure to always wear your seat belt. Remember to buckle up after returning from the restroom and sitting back in your seat. Many injuries during turbulence occur because people neglect to wear their seat belt.
In a statement to The Independent, Steve Landells from the pilots union Balpa advised passengers not to ignore the captain’s instructions to remain seated. He explained that pilots are constantly communicating with other aircrafts and can anticipate turbulence even if the flight seems smooth at the moment.
The Federal Aviation Administration provides the following recommendations for maintaining safety:
- Listen to the flight attendants. Pay attention to the safety briefing at the beginning of your flight and read the safety briefing card.
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Fasten your seat belt. Ensure the safety of yourself and your loved ones by always wearing a seat belt.
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If your child is under two years old, make sure to use a child safety seat or device that has been approved.
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Reduce the likelihood of injuries during a flight by following the carry-on restrictions set by your airline.
Is it possible for turbulence to cause my flight to crash?
According to senior aviation consultant Adrian Young, the answer is yes, but it is not probable.
Young defines “turbulence” as encompassing weather phenomena such as storms and clear air turbulence at high altitudes, as well as microbursts at ground level and wake turbulence resulting from other aircraft.
According to him, the occurrence of crashes caused by this is uncommon in transport planes. He mentions a few instances from the 1960s.
The number of accidents caused by microbursts has decreased since the 1990s. For example, the American Airlines accident in Little Rock in 1999 involving an MD-82 (flight AA1420). This is due to improved extreme weather detection systems and enhanced flight techniques.
“Wake turbulence affects smaller aeroplanes more than large ones. One accident comes to mind; American 587 at New York in 2001.”
Current engineering and technology significantly decrease the level of risk – satellites and advanced meteorology technologies provide pilots with highly precise forecasts of turbulence-prone regions.
In the end, according to Young, “it is uncommon and the industry has made efforts over time to minimize the risk.”
Source: independent.co.uk
