OT: Turbulence

[MaroonBells]

If you're boarding a plane today, you might not want to click on these. I'm a frequent flyer by no means, but I have been on a plane at least 50 times, so I don't consider myself afraid to fly. But even moderate turbulence can turn my knuckles white. Can't imagine what it was like on this plane. 1 dead and 30 injured. 

https://twitter.com/MattWallace888/statu...1582972310
https://twitter.com/WinnieSchola/status/...0936084658

[StickierBuns]

Its the only reason I wear a seatbelt flying.....it'll save you from hitting the ceiling and breaking your neck in extreme turbulence. It happens rarely here in the U.S., but in places like Japan and Singapore, that kind of extreme turbulence does happen. Prolonged turbulence will get my motion sickness to kick in, which means being very nauseous which I f-cking hate. It doesn't frighten me, however.

[JimmyinSD]

I look at turbulence as getting an amusement park ride on an otherwise boring flight, and it is amusing to watch some people lose their shit over something they have no control over, once that plane door closes its in God's hands IMO. and yes to the seat belts when things are getting bumpy, I dont always keep mine on, but when its suggested, its in my best interest.

[VikingOracle]

Turbulence is getting worse, possibly because of climate change.  I always keep my seat belt on.

https://www.frommers.com/tips/airfare/ho...ting-worse

[Waterboy]

Turbulence is getting worse, possibly because of climate change.  I always keep my seat belt on.

https://www.frommers.com/tips/airfare/ho...ting-worse

Yeah, definitely climate change. lol   "Turbulence is getting worse".  Please show the study.

"Possibly because of climate change".  Again, show the study...  lol


I love this kind of speculation.  It's how Covid took on a life of its own.

[JimmyinSD]

Turbulence is getting worse, possibly because of climate change.  I always keep my seat belt on.

https://www.frommers.com/tips/airfare/ho...ting-worse

if it was indeed being experienced more, I would guess it is a due to more confidence in the aircraft's abilities to handle flying through weather instead of around it, or having the flights grounded all together.

[AGRforever]

Turbulence is getting worse, possibly because of climate change.  I always keep my seat belt on.

https://www.frommers.com/tips/airfare/ho...ting-worse

FFS

[badgervike]

The data doesn't actually support any statistical change in turbulence over the years according to the NTSB. From their own slides, the data below shows events from 1998 to 2013. That averages to just over 14 serious events per year in that period.

Year Events Serious Minor
2013 11 3 37
2012 33 10 83
2011 26 19 32
2010 13 11 73
2009 21 15 106
2008 12 12 43
2007 11 12 10
2006 28 9 49
2005 33 9 42
2004 36 12 50
2003 36 24 83
2002 29 14 74
2001 33 17 53
2000 40 21 82
1999 36 16 181
1998 34 22 111
16 432 225 1,109

Also from the NTSB, there were 146 serious events from 2009 - 2021 or about 13.3 events per year.

That looks like a normal statistical spread of the number of serious events from 1998 to 2021. There's no later data yet. I'm not sure what it would mean anyway as the pandemic shut down most flying....which would cause the numbers to rise post pandemic to pre pandemic levels. Some years are worse than others. About 80% of the serious injuries are Flight Attendants.

So..not much has changed for the actual data. What has accelerated over the years is that every serious weather event is automatically tied to Climate Change. We had the fewest tornadoes recorded in the US ever in 2013...but we don't talk about that...we talked about the single tornado that caused significant damage and loss of life as proof positive of Climate Change. https://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2...n/2148075/

We don't talk about the unprecedented 10 year period with no CAT 3 or higher Hurricanes hitting the US...but we will certainly talk about subsequent singular events as proof positive of Climate Change related events. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12251/#:~:text...70%20years.

[AGRforever]

if it was indeed being experienced more, I would guess it is a due to more confidence in the aircraft's abilities to handle flying through weather instead of around it, or having the flights grounded all together.

Either that or it’s because save the pandemic years we fly more flights year over year every year.

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if it was indeed being experienced more, I would guess it is a due to more confidence in the aircraft's abilities to handle flying through weather instead of around it, or having the flights grounded all together.

Either that or it’s because save the pandemic years we fly more flights year over year every year.

[badgervike]

I was on a flight into Denver a number of years ago that dropped 1000 feet during approach. Everybody was buckled in so no injuries. It scared the crap out of everybody. Lots of screaming and crying. We actually made the Denver news. I fly all the time so usually don't even notice turbulence...but I noticed that one..