Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Turbulence is increasing. Here's how the aviation industry is trying to
smooth things out
Most air travelers, whether on commercial or private flights, have probably
experienced bumps or shaking during flight. Turbulence is irregular air
movements that are caused by various factors, including weather events, jet
streams, and geographical features like mountains. Also, clear-air turbulence (CAT)
sometimes occurs suddenly and violently in clear skies, which is invisible to
satellites, radar, or human eyes. The number of CAT incidents reported has been
increasing, and some of them have caused injuries and even deaths. Last year,
when a London-Singapore flight encountered severe turbulence over Myanmar, the
aircraft dropped over 50 meters in less than five seconds, killing one
passenger and injuring dozens. Because of global warming, air turbulence is
expected to increase by three times in the next 20 years and have impacts on busy
routes across East Asia and the North Atlantic. One of the countermeasures is
to use AI to predict turbulence, especially CAT, more accurately. Another
approach is to use Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) to create a 3D map of
the air around an airplane, just like self-driving vehicles on the road. Also,
adding small flaplets to larger flaps on aircraft wings could counteract
changes in airflow. In the meantime, always buckle up when you are seated on your
flight.
Read the article and learn about increasing air turbulence.
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