Zartan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (11 years 9 months 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 881 times:
Apparently a 757 hit some severe turbulence over the Gulf of Mexico yesterday. Eight people hospitalized. So I wonder - how can this happen? I mean, I would think that really serious turbulence would manifest itself as clouds or something on a radar, or at least visually to the pilot. I know when I fly I can 75% of the time tell when turbulence is going to occur by watching the cloud formations upcoming... But then, I'm no pilot. Any comments on this type of problem would be great. Here's a link: http://www.cnn.com/2000/US/08/23/houston.emergency.la.02/index.html
Ilyushin96M From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 2609 posts, RR: 16 Reply 2, posted (11 years 9 months 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 800 times:
Some of the most severe turbulence is known as clear air turbulence. It results from updrafts, air currents - any disturbance in the air. An air pocket - one of those areas in which the air is lighter - occurs and a plane can drop several hundred feet without warning. I suppose this is a good enough explanation for this; anyone who has anything to add, please feel free!
The problem with clear air turbulence is that it is unpredictable. This is why it is recommended to keep your seatbelt fastened about you at ALL times while flying. Flight crew, unfortunately, cannot do this as they need to move about the cabin in order to serve passengers.
AC_B777 From Canada, joined Aug 2000, 766 posts, RR: 15 Reply 3, posted (11 years 9 months 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 792 times:
There is a kind of turbulence known as Clear Air Turbulence(CAT). This is a very severe type and it is usually undetectable on radar or by looking out the window.
There are no clouds associated with "CAT", which is why it is called Clear Air Turbulence.
This is probably what the AA flight encountered.
AC_B777
In life, some days you are the bug..... some days you are the windshield!
ILUV767 From United States of America, joined May 2000, 3140 posts, RR: 10 Reply 5, posted (11 years 9 months 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 736 times:
I was on a UA Shuttle flight a few years ago, and we were flying right thorught the clouds, and we hit a big drop, about 100 ft, or so, and the flight attendant near my aisle, stoped what she was doing amd sat indian style on the floor, while gripping on to someone's seat. She spilled 5 cups of hot coffee on the 737's floor!
Every one was fine.
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