Air Canada Flight 190 may have hit an “atmospheric bore”

Air Canada Flight 190 may have hit a very rare phenomenom called an ‘Atmospheric Bore’, a sort of tidal wave in the sky. They are exceptionally rare.

A rogue aerial wave known as an atmospheric bore may have thrown an Air Canada jetliner into a series of rolls and dives that injured 10 people and knocked out part of the airplane’s computer system this week.

University of Western Ontario physics professor Wayne Hocking, an expert in atmospheric turbulence, said conditions in the area where the Airbus A319 was thrown out of control Thursday morning were likely to produce the rare and powerful phenomenon, which he described as a high-altitude version of a tidal bore.

Globe and Mail Article

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Tidal Wave

Written by tb_neg on January 15th, 2008 with 4 comments.
Read more articles on Incidents and News and Turbulence.

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4 comments

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Mention from Crankyflier.com
#1. January 16th, 2008, at 10:28 AM.

The Cranky Flier » Was Air Canada’s Severe Turbulence Encounter Actually an Undular Bore?: other information has been released, except that there was a computer problem. I read a post in the Turbulence ...

Matt
#2. January 16th, 2008, at 10:35 AM.

Quick question… how would you rate Southwest in terms of turbulence avoidance? I’m flying from Chicago to Las Vegas next month.

Thanks!

tb_neg
#3. January 16th, 2008, at 12:16 PM.

See this previous blog post.
http://www.turbulenceforecast.com/blog/2008/01/05/northwest-airlines-flies-around-turbulence-while-others-rough-it/

Southwest came in close at 2nd place for avoidance. Many forum posters like Southwest. I also booked a Southwest flight, even in a Northwest hub city (although it was substantially cheaper than Northwest and I’m going with someone else).

I would consider Southwest acceptable. Many would argue they all try, but I would like to fly with those who try the best and most often.

Mention from Turbulenceforecast.com
#4. January 16th, 2008, at 12:22 PM.

Video of undular bore found, see what Air Canada 190 felt - Turbulence Forecast Blog: posted a fascinating video of a undular bore, which may have caused the severe turbulence on Air Canada Flight ...

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