More frequent plane turbulence due to climate change

Due to climate change. Meanwhile, plane turbulence becomes more and more frequent, even more violent, support experts. Consequently, This upward trend forces the aeronautical sector to improve the design of aircraft and the precision of radars.

Last Wednesday. Moreover, a major turbulence forced emergency landing at Minneapolis-Saint-Paul airport of an airplane from the company Delta Air Lines to Amsterdam. Furthermore, A total of 25 people had to be transported to the hospital.

According to Mehran Ebrahimi. Therefore, director of the Observatory of Aeronautics and Civil Aviation and Professor at the University of Quebec in Montreal, the number of this type of turbulence is increasing significantly with climate change.

Air turbulence is linked to a change in air currents that harms the stability of an airplane in full flight. Similarly, They can be caused by more frequent plane turbulence due thunderstorms. Nevertheless, by air movements around mountains, by cold or hot air fronts or even by currents, either strips of strong winds around the earth at certain latitudes.

Certain types of turbulence are detectable on radars, allowing drivers to get around them or reduce the impact. Therefore, Other types of turbulence are however undetectable: they are called light air turbulence.

“That is to say, we do not see red spots on the screens of pilots or air controllers. Therefore, We can fall into it like that, and that’s what is most problematic, ”explains Mr. Similarly, Ebrahimi.

According to Nav Canada, clear air turbulence are associated with rapid wind speed changes.

According to Jean Lapointe. Meanwhile, retirement line pilot and civil aviation expert, Masses of hot and cold air will hit more frequently [en raison des changements climatiques] and therefore cause more turbulence events in more frequent plane turbulence due clear weatherhe specifies.

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Between 1979. 2020, the number of serious turbulence increased 55 % above the North Atlantic, according to a British study. Turbulences do not pose a risk of crushing and are rarely fatal, but they can cause lesions.

In May 2024. one person died and 30 others more frequent plane turbulence due were injured in a plane from Singapore Airlines who suffered strong turbulence during his London journey in Singapore and who had to land urgently in Bangkok.

More frequent plane turbulence due

Improve standards

The growing number of turbulence forces actors in the aeronautical sector to review the. design of aircraft.

We know that we will have to increase the standards [de construction]because climate change ensures that there will be more turbulence. which will be more violent. We know that this problem will become more and more importantsummarizes Mr. Ebrahimi.

These improvements could also result in a redevelopment of the interior of the planes. by changes in the ratios used “in terms of what the structure of the plane can bear,” he adds.

In addition. turbulence leads to additional costs for airlines due to the material damage caused and stronger more frequent plane turbulence due consumption of fuel, notes this teacher to theUqam.

In case of turbulence, the pilots must reduce speed, which the plane consumes more [de kérosène]. Sometimes they have to get around the area, so this also increases consumption [de carburant]he explains.

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Mr. Ebrahimi also underlines that the air sector is considering ways of improving the radar system in order. to be able to detect turbulence in clear air.

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The director of the Observatory of Aeronautics. Civil Aviation wishes to specify that The turbulence in itself are not dangerous. The planes are designed to support turbulence. […] Of course, they are unpleasant and they are scary, but they are not dangeroushe sums up.

In the history of aviation. there was no plane crushing caused by turbulence.

The members of the more frequent plane turbulence due crews are also more exposed to risks in the event of turbulence in full flight. In the United States, 207 people have suffered serious injuries due to violent agitations since 2009, three-quarters of them being staff members.

During all the accidents where there were several injured people. it was not those who were seated with their curly belts that were injured but those who were walking in the cabin, and more precisely the agents ofconfirms Mr. Lapointe.

The most important message is to sit with your well curly belt. and at that time, the risks of injuring is almost zerohe assures.

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With the information of Jean-Philippe Hughes