Increase in Airplane Turbulence Prompts Development of New Technologies

On Friday, October 9, severe turbulence affected Avianca Flight 42, which was bound for New York. The Airbus A320 descended 25,000 feet in a short period, resulting in at least nine individuals being hospitalized. Reports indicate that extreme turbulence is increasing in frequency. Dr. Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading, stated, "We’re outputting more energy…we’re stirring up the atmosphere." He referenced a study from a leading geophysical journal indicating that turbulence over the North Atlantic has increased by 55% since the 1970s, and by 44% over the United States. Williams described this increase as "pretty catastrophic." Various companies are working on technologies to help pilots manage turbulence. One such company, Turbulence Solutions, is creating computerized "flaplets" that can be attached to airplane wings. These flaplets adjust the wings' shape in real time based on wind conditions, allowing planes to better navigate turbulence. CEO Andras Galffy noted that this technology has been effective on smaller planes, with expectations for certification on larger aircraft by 2040. Another company, SkyPath, is developing AI-powered weather-mapping software that helps pilots avoid turbulence. The software utilizes data from iPads carried by pilots, analyzing vibration and atmospheric conditions to predict turbulence events with a claimed 90% accuracy. SkyPath has partnered with major airlines and is used on approximately 40,000 flights daily. Additionally, researcher Ricardo Vinuesa from the University of Michigan is using AI to design aircraft that can withstand turbulence without affecting passengers. His model processes extensive data from wind tunnel tests, significantly speeding up the design process. Airlines are also implementing practical measures to mitigate turbulence effects. For example, Singapore Airlines has stopped serving hot meals when the seatbelt sign is on, while Southwest Airlines has begun preparing cabins for landing at higher altitudes. NASA is exploring the use of microphones to detect clear-air turbulence, which is difficult to predict. Chester Dolph, an aerospace engineer at NASA, mentioned that using this technology could help pilots react more quickly to turbulence.