1. Turbulence in the National Airspace System
Aviation Turbulence Workshop
David Holly, FAA
August 29, 2013

2. What we’ll cover The National Airspace System (NAS)
Levels of turbulence
How turbulence reports get to controllers
How turbulence is reported by controllers
Effects of turbulence in the NAS
Questions

3. National Airspace System (NAS)

4. National Airspace System (NAS)

5. Atlanta ARTCC (ZTL) 1.79 million operations in 2013
Charlotte Douglas Int’l #5
362,000 operations in 2013
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
592,000 operations in 2013
Calendar year
1.79 million operations so far this year
2.78 for the fiscal year
ZNY is close behind us due to oceanic traffic
ATL operations
592,000 so far this year
566,000 for ORD
CLT operations #5
362,00 so far this year

6. Levels of Turbulence Light Moderate Severe Extreme
Light: Turbulence that momentarily causes slight erratic changes in altitude and/or attitude (pitch, roll, yaw).
Moderate: Similar to Light Turbulence but of greater intensity. Changes in altitude and/or attitude occur but the aircraft remains in positive control at all times. It usually causes variations in indicated airspeed.
Severe: Turbulence that causes large, abrupt changes in altitude and/or attitude. It usually causes large variations in indicated airspeed. Aircraft may be momentarily out of control.
Extreme: Turbulence in which the aircraft is violently tossed about and is practically impossible to control. It may cause structural damage.

7. How turbulence info gets to controllers
Pilot reports climbing, descending, at cruise altitude
Weather briefings from other controllers or from supervisors
Review of current and forecasted upper winds

8. How controllers report turbulence
PIREPs
Relief briefings
Calls to adjacent sectors or facilities

9. Effects of turbulence in the NAS
Changes in altitude crossing restrictions
Route changes
Cruise altitude changes
Loss of speed control as a tool in getting and maintaining spacing between aircraft
Holding in the hope of improving conditions
Reportable incidents

10. 7/3/ z

11. 7/3/ z

12. 7/3/13 2010z – Moderate reported

13. 7/3/ z – holding

14. 7/3/13 2020z – holding continues

15. 7/3/ z – test flights

16. 7/3/ z – running again

17. 7/3/ z

18. 7/3/ z

19. What we covered The National Airspace System (NAS)
Levels of turbulence
How turbulence reports get to controllers
How turbulence is reported by controllers
Effects of turbulence in the NAS

20. Questions?

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23. Questions?