Presentation Information
[AAS14-P08]A Case Study on Meteorological Conditions of an Air Turbulence Incident and Accident
*WANSIK WON1 (1.Korea Aerospace University)
Keywords:
Aviation Turbulence,Clear Air Turbulence,Convectively Induced Turbulence,Urban Air Mobility
Aviation turbulence is a critical meteorological factor affecting flight safety, and its significance has increased as both major and minor turbulence-related incidents continue to occur. Recent studies on the commercialization of urban air mobility (UAM) also highlight turbulence in UAM operating environments as a key concern.
This study uses meteorological reanalysis data to investigate the atmospheric conditions associated with major aviation accidents and incidents along flight tracks. In addition, we analyze cases of moderate to severe turbulence using aircraft vertical acceleration and vibration–based turbulence measurements. The results indicate that major accidents, incidents, and moderate to severe turbulence events commonly occur near the peripheries of jet streams or convective systems.
The current international air navigation system recommends the Turbulence Energy Dissipation Rate (EDR) as the standard metric for observing and reporting aviation turbulence. However, substantial discrepancies remain between EDR values and pilot reports (PIREPs) for moderate to severe turbulence. One reason for this mismatch is that EDR primarily reflects atmospheric conditions rather than the actual dynamic response of the aircraft.
This study analyzed aviation turbulence measured directly using an onboard accelerometer, revealing patterns consistent with those observed in past turbulence-related accidents and incidents. These findings provide empirical evidence of the characteristics of moderate-to-severe turbulence and are expected to contribute meaningful insights to future detection and prediction of clear-air turbulence (CAT) and convectively induced turbulence (CIT). Furthermore, the turbulence measurement approach employed in this study is anticipated to offer valuable information for research on low-altitude turbulence in UAM operations.
This study uses meteorological reanalysis data to investigate the atmospheric conditions associated with major aviation accidents and incidents along flight tracks. In addition, we analyze cases of moderate to severe turbulence using aircraft vertical acceleration and vibration–based turbulence measurements. The results indicate that major accidents, incidents, and moderate to severe turbulence events commonly occur near the peripheries of jet streams or convective systems.
The current international air navigation system recommends the Turbulence Energy Dissipation Rate (EDR) as the standard metric for observing and reporting aviation turbulence. However, substantial discrepancies remain between EDR values and pilot reports (PIREPs) for moderate to severe turbulence. One reason for this mismatch is that EDR primarily reflects atmospheric conditions rather than the actual dynamic response of the aircraft.
This study analyzed aviation turbulence measured directly using an onboard accelerometer, revealing patterns consistent with those observed in past turbulence-related accidents and incidents. These findings provide empirical evidence of the characteristics of moderate-to-severe turbulence and are expected to contribute meaningful insights to future detection and prediction of clear-air turbulence (CAT) and convectively induced turbulence (CIT). Furthermore, the turbulence measurement approach employed in this study is anticipated to offer valuable information for research on low-altitude turbulence in UAM operations.