Researchers at the University of Reading (United Kingdom) compared atmospheric data between 1979 and 2020. In forty years, the number of turbulence on board aircraft has increased by 50% due to global warming. This is particularly the case when flying over the Atlantic, a very busy air zone, where we have gone from seventeen hours of strong annual turbulence in 1979 to twenty-seven hours in 2020. The results of their study were published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
Former airline pilot Gérard Feldzer, now president of Aviation sans frontières, explains this phenomenon to us.
Le Point: What causes turbulence on airplanes?
Gerard Feldzer: Turbulence occurs when two air currents of different speed, heat and direction meet. The air at ground level heats up and rises at the same time. The cold cloud air, heavier, descends. The crossing of the two is called wind shear. With global warming, the warmer the air, the more the shear increases. This situation occurs only in “clear air” areas. If the turbulence takes place in a cloud, the conditions are different.
What are the consequences for the aircraft?
The main risk for the aircraft is the fatigue of its parts. The wear and tear of the equipment leads to additional costs due to the repairs and maintenance to be carried out. Finally, an aircraft flying in turbulence loses speed, so the journey takes longer and the aircraft consumes more fuel. It is almost impossible to avoid them. The plane cannot exceed a height threshold and, in any case, this remains impossible with the very dense traffic in the air.
If turbulence increases, does the plane become a risky means of transport?
I remember a flight where we had not anticipated the area of ??turbulence. The hostesses were on full duty when the tremors began. From my cockpit I heard the whole plane scream. The trays ended up on the ground, the carts overturned. But it remains an exceptional situation. Airplanes are built to withstand turbulence. Even if the turbulence increases, the plane will resist. Remember that many people are afraid of flying. The increase in turbulence should not make them change their minds…
