Singapore to classify turbulence as a "state-level operational safety risk"

Singapore has become the first country to classify turbulence as a "state-level operational safety risk," ranking it alongside midair collisions and runway incursions. 

The move follows a string of serious incidents, including a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 flight last year where violent jolts killed one passenger and injured dozens more. Officials link the growing danger to climate change which is fueling more severe jet streams and clear-air turbulence.

Clear-air turbulence is especially feared because it strikes without warning in seemingly calm skies. Unlike storm-related bumps, it can't be spotted on radar. Researchers say cases are rising globally, with projections showing sharper increases in the years ahead.

Regulators warn that even routine flights could see higher risk, pushing airlines to tighten seatbelt policies and adjust cabin service.

Technology is playing catch-up. New Al systems, live data-sharing pplatforms and predictive models aim to give pilots more warning. But experts stress the simplest defense against turbulence remains unchanged: stay seated with your belt done up tight but comfortable. 

Turbulence is basically the rapid and unpredictable movement of bodies of air due to a disruption in airflow. It can be caused by various factors, including mountainous terrain, jet streams, and storms. Aviation authorities classify it into several types, depending on how and where it develops. One of the most familiar examples is wake turbulence, the swirling air left behind when a large aircraft passes through an air mass.

The larger the aircraft, the more severe the wake, which is why smaller planes are often given spacing alerts by ATC.

Convective turbulence is another type that forms inside thunderstorms, where strong updrafts and downdrafts create unstable conditions. Then there is mountain wave turbulence, which develops when strong winds are forced over a range and cascade down the leeward side, producing long waves of disturbed air that can extend for hundreds of miles.

Though turbulence can be uncomfortable and scarey for passengers, for pilots, it is part of normal operations, and they are trained extensively to deal with it. They study meteorology, aerodynamics, and aircraft handling as part of their Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) qualification, according to BGS. Before every flight, the crew receives a weather briefing that highlights areas of potential turbulence along the route.