Is it safe to fly during storms? In this article, we will discuss the causes of turbulence, its types, and dangers to aircraft in bad weather. We will also tell you how air traffic controllers help airplanes avoid bad weather and what they do when the situation changes.
What is turbulence?
Turbulence is a deviation from uniform rectilinear motion of an aircraft in a gas medium. It occurs when the flow around an aircraft encounters a barrier (mountainous areas, thunderclouds) or a difference in air density (cold or warm).
How does turbulence affect the flight of an airplane?
When approaching a thunderstorm or flying through clouds, the pressure changes dramatically and thus the indicators on board start to fluctuate. The pressure drop may cause damage to the hull of the plane among other things. However, modern aircraft are able to withstand changes in dynamic pressure.
There are several types of turbulence: clear-air turbulence (CAT), mountain wave turbulence and convective. Each of them has its own causes and effects.
Clear-air turbulence is caused by atmospheric instability. This can be observed in high-altitude flights in the troposphere and lower stratosphere at altitudes of 10,000-12,000 meters (33,
When a plane is cruising around 30,000 feet in the air, it can be hard to tell what’s happening up there. While you might be comfortable and calm inside the cabin, outside the storm can be raging, but unless you get hit by turbulence you have no idea what’s going on.
And this is why some people think it’s unsafe to fly near bad weather. There are stories of planes getting hit by lightning and crashing into the ocean, or being struck by large hail, or even being sucked into a tornado. But it turns out these stories aren’t true at all – flying during storms is actually very safe.
The main reason flying during storms is so safe is because of something called the Bernoulli Effect. When you go into a turn in a car, centrifugal force pushes you against the door on the outside of the turn; but when an airplane goes into a turn, it’s pushed against the ceiling. This is because air flowing over the top of an airplane wing moves more slowly than air flowing underneath it; when this happens, air molecules will naturally want to move from above to below – and that means when an airplane goes up or down or around a curve, there will be less wind pushing up against its surface. In fact, there
Storms and turbulence are a fact of life for pilots. When you’re flying through it, it can be nerve-wracking. But it’s important to remember that turbulence is not dangerous. It’s just an annoying inconvenience for passengers and crew members.
Even though we all get nervous when the seat belt sign comes on, the truth is that the plane is at no more risk during turbulence than it is on a clear day. In fact, there are actually times when pilots want their planes to encounter turbulence.
A common misconception is that if you fly around bad weather, you’ll avoid turbulence. The reality, however, is that turbulence exists in all weather conditions except very clear air days. Planes do fly around storms because they contain lightning and wind shear, which is a sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance. However, even if a plane flies around storms, there will still be turbulence because there are always winds aloft.
Clear air turbulence (CAT) occurs when there are no visual clues for pilots to see the bumpy air coming. This type of turbulence is often encountered on beautiful clear days, and sometimes causes more concern from passengers because they think flying should be smooth with good visibility outside.
In my nearly 20 years of flying
There is a popular belief that flying during storms is unsafe. Most people would rather wait out a storm and take their flight after the inclement weather has passed. We have all heard stories about how turbulence causes planes to crash, but how much of it is myth and how much of it is fact?
The short answer: Yes, it is safe to fly during storms.
Aircrafts are built to withstand the most extreme weather conditions possible, including thunderstorms and tornadoes. Tornadoes are caused by low-pressure systems that form from powerful thunderstorms. In the United States, this occurs in the Midwest where there are flat plains.
Planes can withstand such extreme weather conditions because of their design. Planes are constructed with protective wings that deflect wind gusts and other debris away from the aircraft. As long as the pilot maintains control of the plane, you are safe.
Most airlines prefer not to fly through or near thunderstorms due to turbulence which can cause discomfort for passengers (and crew). Flight crews will attempt to avoid severe weather events whenever possible. Flights may be diverted or delayed if they come into contact with severe weather.
In 2015, an American Airlines flight was enroute to San Diego when it encountered severe turbulence over Arizona which left 5 people injured
If you’ve ever been on a flight that got stuck in the middle of a storm, you know how rough things can get. Your plane may very well be shaken and tossed like a toy, and even though you are flying with a professional pilot at the helm, there’s no denying that it can be scary. And if it’s so bad for us passengers, what about the crew?
The truth is that turbulence is not dangerous for the pilots, nor is it dangerous for the passengers. While it can be quite scary to experience, especially if you’re a nervous flier, the reality is that it will not cause any damage to your aircraft. In fact, modern airplanes are built to withstand turbulence so strong that it would actually tear an old airplane apart.
Today’s commercial jets are built with airframes strong enough to withstand extreme turbulence, which means even if there were no rules in place, they could still fly through storms without any threat of breaking apart. And yet these planes are so safe that most airlines don’t even allow their pilots to fly through storms unless they absolutely have to.
Turbulence happens any time the atmosphere is unstable. This can happen more often during certain seasons, or during different times of day. Turbulence isn’t always avoidable, but it is possible to predict which conditions will lead up to a turbulent flight. If a weather front passes over an airplane, the air around the plane will mix and become unstable. The result is turbulence. Turbulence isn’t always avoidable, but it is possible to predict which conditions will lead up to a turbulent flight.
Turbulent Weather
The most common way to experience turbulence on an airplane is because of weather-related disturbances in the atmosphere. There are two basic types of turbulence: clear air turbulence (CAT) and convective turbulence (CIT). CAT happens when the aircraft passes through areas with no visible signs of clouds. It’s more common at higher altitudes, where airplanes fly faster and have less contact with stable air masses below them. CIT occurs when there are visible clouds below the aircraft in areas of rising air currents.
Stormy weather is another common cause of turbulence for airplanes. Hurricanes can create enormous wind shear that can be incredibly dangerous for pilots and passengers alike. These storms produce huge wind gusts that can reach
Flying is the safest way to travel and even the most turbulent flight is not dangerous. But if you’re worried about turbulence, there are ways to minimise the discomfort it causes.
First of all, try to fly on a larger aircraft. Turbulence is usually much worse in smaller planes than in large jets. If you can’t avoid flying in a small aircraft, ask the crew where the best seats are to minimise the impact of turbulence. Some airlines even have special “rough air” seats, which are located near the wings where turbulence is less noticeable.
If you want to be sure that your flight will be smooth, avoid flying during bad weather or in areas with high mountain ranges. The radar of Flightradar24 shows where bad weather conditions are detected by other aircraft.
The radar also shows if there are thunderstorms or heavy winds in an area, and whether they will affect your flight path or not.
To avoid turbulence, fly above it! Most likely aircraft will have to climb above clouds and storms at some point during the trip anyway and then descend once clear of them again. However, pilots may alter their route to try and avoid turbulence whenever possible.