Air Canada Flight AC33 in July 2019 experienced severe clear-air turbulence, affecting passengers like Luke Wheeldon and Linda Woodhouse. Wheeldon, returning to Australia after a music festival, and Woodhouse, traveling to Perth for a new job, were caught off guard by the sudden turbulence halfway through their 15-hour flight from Vancouver to Sydney.
The unexpected turbulence caused chaos onboard, with passengers thrown around the plane as if it were being shaken by a giant force. Wheeldon’s bandmate suffered severe injuries, breaking his neck in six places. Woodhouse witnessed the harrowing scenes of passengers colliding with the aircraft’s interior and flight attendants being tossed into the air.
This incident was attributed to severe clear-air turbulence, a phenomenon increasingly linked to climate change. The warming jet stream, affected by climate shifts, generates wind shear that leads to unpredictable turbulence even in clear skies. Researchers like Paul Williams from the University of Reading have been investigating ways to predict and mitigate this type of turbulence.
To improve turbulence forecasting, scientists are turning to nature for inspiration, particularly studying birds’ flight mechanics. Aimy Wissa from Princeton University’s bio-inspired morphology lab has researched how birds’ feather structures can enhance airplane stability during turbulent conditions. By mimicking certain bird feather characteristics, such as covert feathers, researchers have discovered potential methods to improve aircraft performance in adverse flying situations.
As the frequency of severe clear-air turbulence rises due to climate change, passengers are reminded of the importance of wearing seatbelts during flights for safety. Despite advancements in turbulence prediction, the challenge remains to keep pace with the escalating turbulence risks associated with climate change.