Map of America's Most Turbulent Flights as New Tool Aims to Smooth Travel
Millions of airline passengers could experience fewer jarring flights thanks to a new federal forecasting tool.
A new federal tool launched by the National Weather Service's Aviation Weather Center aims to reduce jarring flights for millions of U.S. airline passengers. The Graphical Turbulence Guidance Nowcast (GTGN) provides pilots with near real-time, high-resolution turbulence information to help them adjust routes or altitudes before passengers feel the bumps.
GTGN updates every 15 minutes and combines observations from aircraft with weather and atmospheric data to offer a more detailed picture of turbulent conditions. The tool, which debuted July 30, is available to all pilots across the lower 48 states via the National Weather Service Aviation Weather Center website. Turbulence, caused by irregular air movement, can make flying uncomfortable but modern commercial aircraft are designed to handle severe turbulence.
The FAA describes turbulence as a leading cause of in-flight injuries. Several factors can create turbulence, including thunderstorms, jet streams, and mountain ranges. North America's bumpiest flights often occur in the western United States due to mountain ranges. The tool is expected to help pilots identify areas of rough air more quickly and make safer, more informed decisions while flying.
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