The Airbus A380, claimed to be “bigger and better” than the Boeing 747, may not be. Originally, Airbus had thought that the double decker A380 would carry 35-40 percent more passengers than the 747, which has been now changed. With a smaller passenger count, many of the advantages of the A380 go away. The most interesting problem with the A380 is a matter of wake turbulence. When waiting for takeoff, planes are normally separated by a minute or more, depending on size, as to not get caught in the vortex of the plane that had just taken off.
The problem is, is due to the A380’s size, it generates a large disruption in the air (see this picture for an example).
Large jets will need a separation of an additional two nautical miles when trailing an A380, compared with rules for existing large planes such as the 747.
This rises to an additional four nautical mile spacing for light aircraft and airports won’t be able to squeeze in as many flights in the minutes after an A380 lands as they do with a 747.
While Turbulence Forecast has been helping fliers predict turbulence on flights, an exciting new development is underway that could make flights smoother.
Airplane passengers could soon experience much less in-flight turbulence if testing goes well for a new detection system designed to end stomach-lurching bumpy rides and reduce delays.
The air turbulence detection system , designed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), has already successfully alerted some pilots steering United Airlines commercial flights to patches of rough air as they flew through clouds.
After many delays, Virgin America flew their first flight from New York to San Francisco. VA will have many on board amenities to keep your mind off those inevitable bumps on your flight including movies, music, in seat ordering of food, and much more.
The weather and jet stream activity of today makes for very interesting analysis of airlines and their willingness to avoid turbulence. A previous blog post from December 13th, 2006 showed that Northwest Airlines did the best job in avoiding turbulence. A look today shows much of the same. Only Northwest seems willing to avoid turbulence the most, as compared to other airlines. You can always investigate this yourself by visiting FlightAware and seeing the routes that planes take. Just type in two city pairs and have a look.
Southwest Airlines uses an interesting strategy to save money during the summer months. As regular visitors know, the jet stream shifts to the north during the summer, resulting in generally smoother flights. Southwest uses this fact to fly more flights every day.
One of the more amusing comments seen in a pilot report of turbulence:
PIREP 02:10Z 02/28/07
ABQ UUA /OV ABQ130020 /TM 0210 /FL 105 /TP C402 /TB SEV BLO 100 /RM DURD OVR MANZANO MTNS PILOT SAID HE WENT WEIGHTLESS SEVERAL TIMES
With rides a bit choppy in the airspace over the Cleveland sector, get a behind the scenes listen to air traffic control and pilots discussing turbulence. If you listen right now, you’ll hear a lot of ‘how are the rides’, ‘light to moderate chop’, and more.
What’s worse than flying through moderate-severe turbulence? Not flying at all, being stuck on a plane for 8 hours with only these chips to eat. Many JetBlue customers were stranded waiting for an elusive takeoff that never came, and were subdued with terra blue chips and overflowing bathrooms.
Several planes became frozen to the ground and people were unable to leave the planes.
A new airline, Virgin America is having difficulties getting approved to fly in the US due to regulations. A website www.letvafly.com has been set up, which explains further. Virgin America would be good competition for the airline industry, and their very advanced in flight entertainment system may take your mind off the bumps. Watch this video to learn more.
