3 ms·

Right, and those two years are generationally distant. Another question I have is if pilots have a stable mechanism (that is, an unchanged objective sensor or s

Right, and those two years are generationally distant. Another question I have is if pilots have a stable mechanism (that is, an unchanged objective sensor or something) that records the CAT or if it’s recorded by pilots, whose sensitivity to CAT might differ over time. Didn’t mention in the article how it’s measured.

throwup238 2y ago
CATs are recorded in pilot reports using terms like "light", "moderate", "severe", and "extreme" which each have a definition. I.e. severe is "Occupants are forced violently against seat belts or shoulder straps. Unsecured objects are tossed about. Food service and walking are impossible." I think only severe and extreme turbulence need mandatory reports and the lower two levels are a bit more subjective ("Food service and walking are difficult") Newer planes have sensors to measure eddy dissipation rates which are an objective measure of turbulence but I don't know how widespread those systems are and whether they get reported anywhere. They're mostly used for long distance transoceanic flights.
- oceanplexian 2y ago
  Unsecured objects being tossed around has no real meaning, it’s about controllability of the aircraft. I’m a pilot and it’s been a while since I went over PIREPS but generally severe is rarely used, severe means the turbulence is so bad you can no longer control the aircraft. What most passengers imagine as severe is probably light turbulence. Most of the time it’s not even reported. As a side note if you’re ever on an aircraft and not secured at all times, you’re making a huge mistake.
  - withinboredom 2y ago
    I watched Cast Away. I always wear my seat belt.
  - makestuff 2y ago
    Have there been any reports of true severe clear air turbulence (where the pilot cannot control the plane) or are all of these cases not technically severe because the pilots were in control the entire time and it was just a bumpy ride? Another question I have is what do you do in that scenario if you can't control it? Just ride it out and hope for the best?
  - orhmeh09 2y ago
    Is using the bathroom or stretching your legs advisable?
    - throwup238 2y ago
      You don't have to live in fear of turbulence when flying, just keep your seatbelt on when you're seated. Turbulence is fairly rare but it's still a numbers game. The probability that you experience it the 99% of the time you're seated is much higher than the probability of experiencing turbulence while standing, especially since pilots proactively turn on the seatbelt sign when turbulence is expected.
- robxorb 2y ago
  So this could be a trend in pilot reporting rather than turbulence?

throwup238 2y ago

CATs are recorded in pilot reports using terms like "light", "moderate", "severe", and "extreme" which each have a definition. I.e. severe is "Occupants are forced violently against seat belts or shoulder straps. Unsecured objects are tossed about. Food service and walking are impossible." I think only severe and extreme turbulence need mandatory reports and the lower two levels are a bit more subjective ("Food service and walking are difficult") Newer planes have sensors to measure eddy dissipation rates which are an objective measure of turbulence but I don't know how widespread those systems are and whether they get reported anywhere. They're mostly used for long distance transoceanic flights.

oceanplexian 2y ago
Unsecured objects being tossed around has no real meaning, it’s about controllability of the aircraft. I’m a pilot and it’s been a while since I went over PIREPS but generally severe is rarely used, severe means the turbulence is so bad you can no longer control the aircraft. What most passengers imagine as severe is probably light turbulence. Most of the time it’s not even reported. As a side note if you’re ever on an aircraft and not secured at all times, you’re making a huge mistake.
- withinboredom 2y ago
  I watched Cast Away. I always wear my seat belt.
- makestuff 2y ago
  Have there been any reports of true severe clear air turbulence (where the pilot cannot control the plane) or are all of these cases not technically severe because the pilots were in control the entire time and it was just a bumpy ride? Another question I have is what do you do in that scenario if you can't control it? Just ride it out and hope for the best?
- orhmeh09 2y ago
  Is using the bathroom or stretching your legs advisable?
  - throwup238 2y ago
    You don't have to live in fear of turbulence when flying, just keep your seatbelt on when you're seated. Turbulence is fairly rare but it's still a numbers game. The probability that you experience it the 99% of the time you're seated is much higher than the probability of experiencing turbulence while standing, especially since pilots proactively turn on the seatbelt sign when turbulence is expected.
robxorb 2y ago
So this could be a trend in pilot reporting rather than turbulence?