AIRLINES WILL USE ‘BIG DATA’ TO AVOID DANGEROUS TURBULENCE

Airlines are working together to achieve smoother flights and offset a predicted climate-driven increase in dangerous severe turbulence. Scientists have warned passengers to expect more bone-jarring encounters with rough weather due to changes in the climate. A 2017 study by University of Reading researcher Dr Paul Williams predicted the chances of being tossed around an aircraft cabin by severe turbulence could triple in coming years. Although technology allowing aircraft to detect the phenomenon has improved, clear air turbulence remains difficult to distinguish and there are still incidents where passengers and cabin crew are injured. It already costs US carriers an estimated $US200 million annually and the US Federal Aviation Administration has identified it as the leading cause of injuries to passengers and crew in non-fatal accidents.