Flying is one of the safest forms of transportation, but it may not feel like it when turbulence strikes. What exactly is that "rough air" pilots always talk about? How much disturbance is considered normal? Read on for the low-down.
What Causes Turbulence?
Airplanes travel on wind flow. Most of the time it's smooth, making for an easy flight. But sometimes the smooth air turns choppy — think waves on an ocean — causing the plane to rise, fall, and sway as it makes its way across the sky.
These so-called eddies of rough air are caused by three main categories of interference: thermal, where warm air rises through cooler air; mechanical, where a mountain or manmade structure alters air flow; and shear, which occurs along the border between two pockets of conversely moving air — like if a pilot crosses into the jet stream to take advantage of a tailwind.
The Federal Aviation Administration says that around 160 serious injuries were caused by turbulence between 2009 and 2012. Considering the FAA handles 45,000 flights per day, that makes injury pretty rare.
Why You Shouldn't Be Worried
While turbulence can feel scary, airplanes are designed to withstand massive amounts of it. "A plane cannot be flipped upside-down, thrown into a tailspin, or otherwise flung from the sky by even the mightiest gust or air pocket," wrote pilot Patrick Smith on his site, AskThePilot.com. "Conditions might be annoying and uncomfortable, but the plane is not going to crash."
Modern airplanes are built to withstand everything from bird strikes to lightning strikes, extreme heat and cold, and severe wind gusts. There's little doubt that a well-maintained commercial airliner can handle some turbulence.
Also, airplane pilots usually know when turbulence is coming thanks to weather reports and a game of telephone played at 30,000 feet. When pilots hit choppy air, they alert air traffic control, as well as the pilots guiding other planes along the same flight path. Pilots or ground support can often spot turbulent air on the radar or note some telltale weather patterns with enough time to brace themselves and their passengers. This heads-up allows them to slow the plane down to "turbulence penetration speed."
There is one type of turbulence that no one can see coming, though, and that's clear-air turbulence, which seemingly comes out of nowhere in clear skies. This kind of turbulence can be the most dangerous as its sudden onset gives no time for the flight crew to warn passengers to return to their seats and buckle up.
How to Stay Safe During Turbulence
The few people who are injured by turbulence each year in the U.S. usually become so because they weren't wearing a seat belt, says the FAA. Many of those injured are the flight crew, who walk around the plane during turbulence to remind passengers of safety precautions. When that seatbelt light comes on, you're best to obey it. That's the pilot and flight crew trying to keep you safe in case of clear-air turbulence, which causes most turbulence-related injuries.
Just so you know, pilots always wear their seat belts.
Why Turbulence Could Be Getting Worse
As the planet heats up amid the climate crisis, some scientists believe that turbulence will become more common and stronger. A 2019 report published in the journal Nature found that climate change will make severe turbulence up to three times more common by 2050 to 2080.
Luckily, researchers are developing new software and laser-based technology that could help airplanes avoid turbulence altogether. The 787 Dreamliner, for example, comes outfitted with sensors that better predict invisible rough air, theoretically allowing pilots to avoid it entirely.
If you're a nervous flier, you can always check out Turbulence Forecast before you go.
FAQs
Could turbulence bring down my flight? “The short answer is yes,” senior aviation consultant Adrian Young tells The Independent – but it's unlikely.
What happens during turbulence? ›
Severe turbulence causes large and abrupt changes in altitude and/or attitude and, usually, large variations in indicated airspeed. The airplane may momentarily be out of control. Occupants of the airplane will be forced violently against their seat belts.
Can pilots see turbulence? ›
While pilots can't actually see turbulence, they often know what is coming up, thanks to reports from other planes, weather reports, and radar equipment. However, clear air turbulence (severe turbulence occurring in cloudless areas) can sometimes catch pilots off guard.
Can you fly without turbulence? ›
Similar to the reason why water bodies often lack turbulence, flying over flat land will often not occur turbulence because of the lack of air disturbance from tall structures. For example, a domestic flight from New York to Chicago is over flat land so is unlikely to encounter turbulence.
Can turbulence break up a plane? ›
The airplane is not going to be flying into any turbulence that would actually be dangerous to the airplane itself. Unless you do something really dumb like flying straight into a thunderstorm cell (which sane pilots would not do,) turbulence is not dangerous to airliners in cruise phase.
What do pilots say when there is turbulence? ›
When turbulence is anticipated or suddenly encountered, the Captain will turn on the FASTEN SEATBELT sign. If turbulence is severe, the Captain will make an announcement “Flight Attendants please be seated”. Immediately discontinue service and return to your jumpseat or sit in the nearest available seat.
What's the worst turbulence can do? ›
In cases of extreme turbulence, pilots can lose control of the airplane and there can even be structural damage to the aircraft, according to the National Weather Service.
Which flight has the most turbulence? ›
For two consecutive years, the title of the most turbulent flight belongs to the route between Santiago, Chile, and Santa Cruz, Bolivia, traversing the formidable Andes Mountains.
How long does turbulence usually last? ›
“That equates to around 30 seconds on an average eight-hour flight,” says Williams, an atmospheric science professor. A more likely scenario, he says, is that for every 10 flights a person takes, nine will have no severe turbulence and one will have several minutes of it.
Why do planes suddenly drop when flying? ›
Turbulence, which causes planes to suddenly jolt while in flight, is considered a fairly normal occurrence and nothing to fear. The movement is caused by "atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts, or thunderstorms," according to The Federal Aviation Administration.
“Flight attendants love turbulence — because we can rest a little bit as we should stay seated, and we cannot get up to provide the food service, for example,” said the 29-year-old, just one of several flight attendants racking up millions of views amid Americans' frustrations with air travel following flight ...
How to relax during turbulence? ›
Flight Attendants Reveal The Best Ways To Stay Calm During Turbulence
- Focus on the fact that planes are built to withstand turbulence. ...
- Practice meditation and deep breathing. ...
- Find distractions. ...
- Get an ice pack. ...
- Talk to a flight attendant. ...
- Pay attention to announcements. ...
- Ask for a seat change.
Now, let's address the main concern – can turbulence cause a plane crash? While severe turbulence can cause minor injuries if you're not buckled in, like in the case of flight attendants walking through the cabin, turbulence alone has not been a direct cause of commercial airplane crashes in recent decades.
Why shouldn't you be afraid of turbulence? ›
A turbulent flight feels deathly frightening, but it's not actually dangerous. Just as a plane is designed to withstand turbulence, the body is designed to withstand a panic attack.
How far do planes drop in turbulence? ›
Very rarely, turbulence can cause a change of a few hundred feet, but most times it is less than 100 feet.
