Shakes On a Plane

There are two types of turbulence, although they feel basically the same from inside the passenger cabin. Storm-related turbulence results when water vapor condenses into droplets, releasing energy that heats the surrounding air. As the heated air rises, it becomes less dense, causing it to rise further and more rapidly. The resulting updraft is what buffets a plane. Storm-related turbulence is relatively easy to identify with Doppler radar or simply by observing cloud formation. Pilots can avoid turbulent air by changing course or altitude, or they can minimize its effects by slowing down. Stormy air can still play a role in aviation accidents, though. In 2009, Air France flight 447 flew into an area of storm activity. Attempting to steer the plane clear of the weather, the pilot seems to have sent the plane into an aerodynamic stall that caused it to crash into the Atlantic. Severe turbulence, along with an airspeed sensor malfunction, likely contributed to the plane?s erratic movements.

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