The document provides an overview of turbulence in aviation, detailing its causes, types, and safety measures for passengers. It explains the different levels of turbulence from light to extreme, their effects on the aircraft and passengers, and emphasizes the importance of following flight crew instructions for safety. Additionally, it offers tips for avoiding turbulence and securing the safety of infants and children during flights.

1. Turbulence
for passengers
By Donald Wecklein
OneCabinSafety.com

2. Turbulence
• By the end of this lesson on turbulence, you will understand:
• What causes turbulence,
• Clear Air Turbulence, also referred to as “CAT”, and
• The four levels of turbulence
• Light,
• Moderate,
• Severe, and
• Extreme.
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3. What is turbulence?
• Turbulence is due to irregular
atmospheric motion or swirling
which results in jolting of the
aircraft.
• The range of intensity goes
from a slight rhythmic
bumpiness with no changes in
altitude or attitude, to abrupt
and severe changes in altitude
and attitude that may cause
severe injury to the aircraft
occupants and potential
damage to the aircraft.

4. What causes turbulence?
• There are many contributors
to turbulence; typically it’s
encountered by:
• General weather conditions,
including the jet stream, upper
air wind speed and direction
changes, and weather fronts.
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5. Weather conditions that cause
turbulence
• Thermals, which is rising air
found in warm and hot
climates, and
• Terrain conditions, such as
mountains, which disrupts
the smooth flow of air.
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6. Weather conditions that cause
turbulence
• Weather in itself causes
turbulence. From the wind
speed, wind direction
changes, air temperature,
rising or descending air, all
these conditions can create
turbulence in the air and
disrupt a smooth flight.
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7. What are thermals?
• Thermals are rising columns
of air that are created when
the surface of the earth is
sufficiently warm. As an
aircraft flies through thermals,
the airplane will experience
turbulent conditions.
• This is most noticeable at low
altitudes during summer
months in very warm or hot
climates, and other warm
States/countries that have the
perfect climate and terrain to
create thermals.
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8. What is mechanical turbulence?
• Mechanical turbulence is
caused by interference of
surface features on the
horizontal flow of air. This
could include trees, tall
buildings, mountains, etc.
The amount of turbulence
experienced depends on the
speed of the wind, the size
and shape of the obstruction,
and local atmospheric
conditions.
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9. Be prepared for turbulence
• There are standard
precautions that you should
follow to minimize the effects
of turbulence:
• Whenever you are seated,
keep your seatbelt fastened.
• If you are using a blanket,
fasten the seatbelt outside the
blanket so the flight attendant
can see it.
• If you lay down across seats,
fasten a seatbelt around your
waist. OneCabinSafety.com

10. Dislike turbulence? Choose your seat
wisely
• In large aircraft such as the 747,
777, 787, the aft portion of the
aircraft may experience a
significantly greater amount of
turbulence, while in the forward
section, turbulence is negligible.
The flight crew may not be aware
how bumpy it is in the rear of the
plane.
• The same generally applies to
smaller jets, including the Airbus
A320 and Boeing 737. Sit at or
forward of the wings, but the
difference between in intensity OneCabinSafety.com

11. Is turbulence dangerous?
• Light turbulence happens almost at
some point during every flight, and
light turbulence isn’t dangerous.
You are required to sit with your
seatbelt fastened, however,
crewmembers are permitted to
stand and move about the cabin.
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12. Is turbulence dangerous?
• Moderate turbulence or greater
can cause injury to both
passengers and crew. Should you
hear an announcement from a
flight crewmember informing flight
attendants to return to their seats,
either the turbulence became
strong enough to require the crew
to sit down, or the flight crew
received a pilot report, called a
PIREP.
• A PIREP may contain a report of
known turbulence ahead, and as a
precaution, the captain will haveOneCabinSafety.com

13. Make appropriate announcements
• Based on the severity of the
turbulence, the cabin crew will
act accordingly, as described
by each level of severity. If the
captain doesn’t make an
announcement advising
passengers to return to their
seat, the Lead F/A will make
the announcement, informing
passengers to remain seated.
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14. Seatbelt sign on
• When turbulence is
anticipated or suddenly
encountered, the captain will
turn on the Fasten Seatbelt
sign and make an
announcement. If turbulence
is moderate or greater, the
captain may make an
announcement “Flight
attendants please be seated”.
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15. Flight attendants please be seated
• If you hear this, the captain
is aware the level of
turbulence is, or will be,
unsafe for flight attendants
to stand.
• In-flight services will
discontinue, and the flight
attendants will go back to their
seats. They have to do this for
their personal safety, and it’s
required through the request by
the captain, as s/he is the finalOneCabinSafety.com

16. Turbulence stopped, can’t I get up?
• After an extended period of
time and no further turbulence
is experienced, the Lead F/A
may call the cockpit to ask if
it’s safe to get up from the
jumpseat, or if they need to
remain seated.
• Remember, the requirement for
you to sit with your seatbelt on
is for your safety, and those
around you.
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17. Anticipated turbulence
• For anticipated turbulence,
the captain may use the
following signals:
• Seatbelt sign “ON,” followed by
a PA announcement by the
captain when the seatbelt sign
is turned on.
• The plane may not be
experiencing turbulence, but it’s
coming. As a precaution, the
captain requests that you return to
your seat and fasten your
seatbelt.
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18. Anticipated turbulence
• Flight attendants may go over
to passengers standing or in
lavatory areas and advise they
need to return to their seats in
anticipation of turbulence.
• Yes, “Mother Nature” is calling,
yet you are being requested to
sit in the interest of your
personal safety. Remember,
when they ask you to sit, they
are doing it on behalf of the
captain. It’s their responsibility
to inform passengers they need
to sit. OneCabinSafety.com

19. Clear Air Turbulence
• Clear Air Turbulence, referred
to as “CAT” is an operational
factor for flight operations at
high altitudes. CAT is typically
associated with upper flight
level turbulence.
19OneCabinSafety.com

20. Clear Air Turbulence
• This type of turbulence is not
associated with clouds,
including thunderstorms,
which can make it harder to
predict. CAT, when
encountered can be classified
as light, moderate, severe or
extreme.
20OneCabinSafety.com

21. Light turbulence
• If light turbulence occurs
during a beverage service,
the Lead flight attendant may
use their discretion to
discontinue hot beverage
service during turbulence.
• Coffee cups on planes don’t typically
come with lids, which makes it easier
to spill hot liquids on yourself, or
someone next to you. If hot
beverages are served during
turbulence, the cup may be filled less
than usual to help prevent spills, and
someone getting burned.
21OneCabinSafety.com

22. It’s for the passenger’s safety
• While you may not appreciate
not receiving your coffee or
tea, it is for your safety, as
well as those around you.
There have been instances of
passengers, adults and
children, being burned by
spilled hot liquids on aircraft
during turbulence!
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23. The crew may check on you
• If flight attendants perform a
seatbelt check…
• They will check on all
passengers, including those
sleeping, to make sure
seatbelts are fastened.
• They may verify children
occupying a child restraint seat
are properly restrained within
the device.
• If you or your child plans to
sleep during the flight, keep
the belt fastened and visible
to the crew. OneCabinSafety.com

24. Turbulence severity
• The severity of turbulence
encountered in flight dictates
the appropriate Flight
Attendant action to be taken.
Based on the four levels of
turbulence, known as light,
moderate, severe, and
extreme, you will now learn:
• How the aircraft responds
during turbulence,
• The conditions in the cabin, and
• What you should do.
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25. Light turbulence
• What happens during light
turbulence?
• The aircraft will experience
momentary, slightly erratic
changes in attitude/altitude.
• In the cabin, the seatbelt sign
will come on, and passengers
and crew may feel slight strain
against their seatbelt.
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26. Light turbulence
• Unsecured objects should remain
at rest. You should have little or no
difficulty to walk.
• Flight attendants may inspect the
cabin and galley for loose articles
and perform a seatbelt check on
passengers. Service of food and
beverage may continue, however,
serving hot beverages may or may
not continue.

27. Moderate turbulence
• What happens during
moderate turbulence?
• The aircraft will experience
changes in altitude, attitude,
and airspeed changes may
happen, but the aircraft remains
in positive control.
• You may feel a strain on your
seatbelt, and items on your tray
table may shift.
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28. Severe turbulence
• What happens during severe
turbulence?
• The aircraft will experience
large, abrupt changes in
altitude/attitude. The aircraft
may be momentarily out of
control.
• In the cabin, passengers are
forced violently against their
seatbelts. Unsecured objects
will be tossed about. Walking
through the cabin is impossible.
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29. What happens during extreme
turbulence?
• The aircraft will be tossed
violently, and it will be
practically impossible for the
pilots to control. There is a
chance that the plane may
experience some structural
damage.
• In the cabin, people seated
are forced violently against
their seatbelt, or tossed if not
secure.
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30. What happens during extreme
turbulence?
• Unsecured objects will be
tossed about, and it is
impossible to walk. Extreme
turbulence can happen
without warning.
• Remain seated until advised
by captain it is safe to get up
again.
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31. It’s for everyone’s safety – especially
yours
• When you are notified to sit
down during turbulence,
follow the captain’s and flight
attendant’s instructions. You
may be disappointed not to
receive your meal, or be stuck
with a finished tray on your
tray table. You will have to
wait be advised it is safe to
get up again.
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32. Stay seated
• Remember, you may be told
to sit and fasten your seatbelt
even though the turbulence
isn’t that bad – yet. The flight
crew may have information
you aren’t aware of (PIREPS)
and they choose to take
precautions and have you sit.
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33. Turbulence overall
• While typical turbulence experienced during flight is generally
not dangerous, it does have the capability to cause injury to
passengers and crew should it intensify, or if you don’t heed the
warnings from the flight crew to sit and remain seated when
instructed.
• As a passenger, you must always comply with the requirement
to sit with your seatbelt fastened anytime the fasten seatbelt
sign is illuminated. Although the flight attendants are the ones
informing passengers to sit, it is a delegated request through
the captain that they inform passengers they need to sit down.
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34. Passengers: It’s a regulation – fasten
your seatbelt
• Additionally, per 14 CFR 121.317, it says:
(f) Each passenger required by §121.311(b) to occupy a seat or
berth shall fasten his or her safety belt about him or her and
keep it fastened while the “Fasten Seat Belt” sign is lighted.
And…
• (k) Each passenger shall comply with instructions given him or
her by a crewmember regarding compliance with paragraphs
(f), (g), (h), and (l) of this section.
• Flight attendants are crewmembers; (k) says you shall comply
with instructions given by a crewmember… Fasten your seatbelt
as required and instructed – it’s for your safety!
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35. A few facts about turbulence and flying
• While you can’t avoid all
turbulence, you can reduce
some of your exposure to it.
• Fly in the early morning, or in
the evening after sundown.
This is especially true in hot
climates like Arizona, Nevada,
New Mexico, etc.
• Thermal activity increases as the
day progresses, and reduces as
the ground and air slowly begins
to cool.
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36. A few facts about turbulence and flying
• As the day progresses, and the
air and ground becomes
warmer, convective activity
takes place. Cumulus clouds
may form and grow into
cumulonimbus clouds, or
potential thunderstorms.
• Such clouds are likely to produce
turbulence. While such clouds can
form at any time of the day, they
are more likely to form and be
more intense during afternoon
and evening daylight hours
• Morning and night flights help
avoid this.
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37. How to have a potentially better flight
• Sit at the overwing area, or as
far forward as you can, as the
effect of turbulence is
somewhat less in front than the
rear of the plane.
• Should you encounter
turbulence, don't look out the
window. Watching the plane
rock back and forth may make
you more unnecessarily
concerned about the safety of
the flight.
• Do something else to occupy your
thoughts.
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38. Look at the wings, and relax!
• When you see the airplane
wing flex during turbulence, it
may cause you to worry that
something may go wrong.
Airplane wings are very, very
strong, and designed to flex
during turbulence.
• If they didn't flex, it would put
unnecessary strain on the wing.
• Watch this Airbus test video
as a measure how much flex
is designed in to a wing
without snapping!
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39. Prepare yourself for turbulence
• When you look at weather
maps and see the location of
weather fronts (red and blue
lines), you are likely to
experience some turbulence
in that area. Remember,
turbulence is part of flying.
• Again, turbulence can't be
completely avoided, but
sometimes knowing when it is
likely to occur may actually give
you some comfort.
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40. Pilots try to avoid turbulence
• Pilots do actively attempt to
change altitude's when
experiencing turbulence, or if
it's forecast along their route.
Sometimes a change of
altitude helps, sometimes it
doesn't.
• There are instances where
turbulence is experienced
throughout all upper air flight
altitudes and for many miles
wide. Sometimes there's
nothing that can be done to OneCabinSafety.com

41. Pilots try to avoid turbulence
• Sometimes air traffic control
cannot accommodate the
altitude change request due
to all the other aircraft on the
same route to change altitude
due to the weather.
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42. Did you know…
• Up to 50% of the turbulence
you experience is actually
caused by the airplane
correcting itself?
• When a wing dips, correction
needs to be made by the plane
to continue flying forward, the
other half of the rocking you
feel!
• Modern autopilots can sense
altitude and bank angle
changes faster than a pilot
hand-flying the airplane! OneCabinSafety.com

43. Carry-on bag vs your infant/toddler
• Infants and children under
two years old are safest when
in their own seat, and
depending on size, being
strapped into a car seat, not
on your lap.
• You can’t hold your bag on your
lap for taxi, takeoff, and
landing, but you can hold your
child. Let that sink in for a
moment.
• The NTSB promotes
infants/toddlers to be in child
restraint seats. Read more and
watch the videos: OneCabinSafety.com

44. Carry-on bag vs your infant/toddler
• Traveling domestic, airlines
generally will allow you to
bring your car seat on board
and use it provided there is
an empty seat available.
• You can guarantee your child
extra safety by purchasing a
seat for them.
• Under two years old they can sit in
your lap, but should your flight
encounter severe turbulence, you
will have difficulty holding them
and risk injury to your child. Read
more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/baby-
flying-hurt-plane-hit-
turbulence/story?id=22559274
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45. What’s not allowed (USA specific)
• Booster seats, lap belts, sling
devices and other
unapproved child restraint
devices are not permitted for
use during taxi, takeoff, and
landing.
• It’s the airline’s discretion to
allow these devices to be used
during all other time in flight.
• If you bring these devices, They
will have to be stowed during
taxi, takeoff, and landing.
• If too large, they may need to
be checked at the gate during
boarding.

46. How to keep your little ones safe
• Infants and children are
safest when in their own seat,
and depending on size, being
strapped into a car seat…
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47. How to keep your little ones safe
• or into an approved harness
named C.A.R.E.S.
• The CARES Child Aviation
Restraint System is designed
specifically for aviation use for
children age 1 and older who
weigh between 22 and 44
pounds.
• You can get more information
from KidsFlySafe at
http://kidsflysafe.com
• (This is for your information only – I
have no business relationship with
them!) OneCabinSafety.com

48. How to keep your little ones safe
• Air travel is costly, and the
purchase of an extra seat for
your infant can be expensive.
It’s up to you to weigh the risk
vs reward of traveling with
your toddler at no cost,
against the chance of injury
due to severe turbulence.
Regardless of your decision,
may you always have safe
flights!
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49. Remember, fly safe and keep your seatbelt fastened when seated.
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50. Contact us
• If you liked what you learned through this presentation, and
you’re thinking about updating, redesigning, and improving your
flight attendant manual and/or training program, contact us!
• Visit our website: www.OneCabinSafety.com to learn what we
can do for you.
Email us
Donald Wecklein: Donald@onecabinsafety.com