Turbulence is the worst part of flying for many people. Though it’s a phenomenon that happens surprisingly regularly, it can often be alarming – one that can strike fear into even the most seasoned flyers.
But is is often misunderstood; it provides very little threat to modern commercial aircraft, with most injuries occurring when people aren’t strapped into their seats.
Turbulence is defined by the US National Weather Service as a phenomenon that is “caused by abrupt, irregular movements of air that create sharp, quick updrafts and downdrafts” that “occur in combinations and move aircraft unexpectedly”.
The most common type, called clear air turbulence (CAT), is defined by the Federal Aviation Administration as “sudden severe turbulence occurring in cloudless regions that causes violent buffeting of aircraft”. It adds that this “is especially troublesome because it is often encountered unexpectedly and frequently without visual clues”.
So what is the likelihood that you’ll be affected by turbulence, and which flying routes are most affected by it? We answer the key questions.
Read more: What is turbulence and can it cause your plane to crash?
How likely am I to be affected by severe turbulence?
While most flyers will have encountered some mild turbulence before, severe turbulence is far more rare. Some figures put the number of flights affected by severe turbulence as one departure in every 50,000.
Conditions caused by global warming mean that we may see slightly more turbulence in the future. According to data taken over the last 16 years by the Federal Aviation Administration, the average number of injuries related to serious turbulence per year in the US is 33.
In June, a BA flight between Singapore and London was forced to turn back to its origin airport due to severe turbulence
(Getty Images)
Where are the best (and worst) places to sit for turbulence?
Ideally, book a seat near the wingspan in the centre of the plane for the smoothest flying experience. Being near the plane’s centre of mass means you’re less likely to be affected by forces such as wind, drag and lift.
In addition, the front of the plane experiences less noticeable effects of turbulence than the seats in the back, as they are more affected by wind hitting the tail of the aircraft.
What are the most turbulent flight routes around the world?…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at The Independent Travel…