Severe turbulence can put even the most seasoned flier on edge, and climate change could be making it worse.
Most of us have experienced turbulence while traveling: when your plane flies through clashing bodies of air moving at widely different speeds.
"Then there's moderate turbulence, a definite strain against seat belts, anything that's not secured will be dislodged, and walking is difficult; flight attendants are usually instructed to take their seats. According to the NTSB, between 2009 and 2018, the flight crew had no warning in about 28% of turbulence-related accidents. Williams' analysis predicts that clear-air turbulence will increase significantly around the globe by the period 2050-2080, in particular along the busiest flight routes, and the strongest type of turbulence will increase the most.
Flight attendants, however, are more exposed to that risk than passengers and sustain approximately 80% of all turbulence-related injuries."We're the most likely to get hurt because we're up working, pushing 300-pound carts, even when there's some sort of warning," says Sara Nelson, a United flight attendant with 26 years of experience and the president of the Association of Flight Attendants, a union representing 50,000 flight attendants across 20 airlines.
Calls for stringent new rules The NTSB held a public meeting about turbulence last year, during which it offered the same recommendation, along with more stringent rules about fastening seat belts for both passengers and flight attendants when the aircraft is flying in the vicinity of thunderstorms and under 20,000 feet, as most injuries occur under these conditions.
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