For both private and commercial aviation, turbulence remains a persistent and unpredictable challenge faced by both crew and passengers. Despite significant advancements in technology and safety protocols, turbulence-related injuries continue to pose a serious threat. The frequency and impact of turbulence on passenger safety highlights the critical need for improved preventive measures and response strategies.
Turbulence is a common aspect of flying; often unpredictable despite being expected. While most flights experience light to moderate turbulence, its unpredictability sets it apart from other in-flight safety challenges that can be addressed with specific sensors or systems.
Part 135 operators, which include on-demand charter flights and air taxis, face unique challenges when it comes to managing turbulence-related injury risks. Unlike large commercial airlines, Part 135 operators often fly smaller aircraft on more varied routes, frequently encountering unpredictable weather patterns and turbulence. This variability increases the potential for turbulence-related injuries among both passengers and crew.
Despite advancements in weather prediction technology, Part 135 pilots often rely on a combination of real-time weather reports, satellite imagery, and their own experience to navigate through turbulent conditions. However, these resources can sometimes fall short, making it challenging to predict and avoid turbulence effectively.
FAA safety research studies suggest that turbulence is the “most common accident type for Part 121 air carriers”, and it should be noted that operators under Part 135 face similar risk.
Emerging technologies are being developed to address turbulence related injuries, making mitigation efforts more accurate and precise and helping to reduce injuries by 40-50%. To enhance safety, it is crucial for Part 135 operators to invest in advanced turbulence prediction technologies and to ensure rigorous training for pilots on turbulence recognition and management. Implementing proactive measures, such as timely communication with passengers about the importance of wearing seat belts, can also help mitigate the risk of injuries.
For instance, companies like ACSF member SkyPath, are utilizing technology, data collection and AI predictive tools to reduce turbulence-related injuries to flight attendants by 40-50%, resulting in cost savings of up to $9.5M/year from injury damages alone.[1] This reduction in injuries is achieved by providing air carrier stakeholders tools to accurately predict and prevent adverse turbulence events. In 2023, the company reported 1.4 billion turbulence reports and provided 3.8 million alerts.
In recent years, there was a trend of increasing crew member injuries due to turbulence. Excluding maintenance and aircraft down time, turbulence related incidents, which are often injury associated, will cost around $66,000 per incident.1 However, implementing a solution like SkyPath’s predictive technology can lead to a sharp drop in injuries and the onset of a new downward trend of turbulence-related injuries to crew members.
These technologies aggregate and analyze extensive and accurate turbulence data, machine learning and AI to predict and prevent accidents. This is combined with pre-existing data, based on several hundred cases collected in the past 24 months, about the location and severity of turbulence for 75% of the cases before the aircraft reaches the location of the accident.
While cost saving is only one benefit of predictive technology and better data, mitigating risk also has a net benefit for the human cost of injuries, the wider detriment to customer satisfaction, and maintenance and fuel costs.
Further research and collaboration with regulatory bodies like the FAA can drive the development of more effective strategies and tools to address the unique turbulence challenges faced by Part 135 operators, ultimately improving safety outcomes for this critical segment of the aviation industry.
Additionally, SkyPath is offering a special discount to other ACSF members for their innovative turbulence mitigation solutions. This partnership exemplifies the collaborative efforts within the aviation industry to enhance safety measures and reduce risks associated with turbulence-related injuries.
[1] For carriers experiencing 30 injuries per month, assuming average cost of injury of $66,000 (source: https://www.lse.ac.uk/business/consulting/assets/documents/sky-high-economics-chapter-two-evaluating-the-economic-benefits.pdf)
