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against seatbelts or shoulder straps. Un- secured objects are dislodged. A different altitude or route will be necessary.
Severe Turbulence: Causes large abrupt changes in altitude and attitude. The aircraft may be momentarily out of control. Structural damage is possible. Occupants are forced violently against seat belts or shoulder straps. All unse- cured objects, including heavy serving carts, are tossed around. This level of turbulence is often categorized as “un- inhabitable.”
Extreme Turbulence: Causes the air- craft to be violently tossed about in alti- tude and attitude. The aircraft will occa- sionally be out of control, and structural damage is likely. Occupants are forced violently against seat belts or shoulder straps – injuries are likely. All unsecured objects are tossed about violently; some objects may break free from retainers.
All levels of turbulence are reported as occasional, intermittent or continu- ous. A typical report heard over the radio may sound like this: “L.A. cen- ter, Citation Six Romeo Bravo, three- niner-zero – smooth.” Or “...continuous
light, occasional moderate chop” or “... intermittent light turbulence, request a ride report.”
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall Humpty Dumpty had a
great fall.
All the king’s horses and all
the king’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
In the 17th century, humpty dump- ty was not only a drink of brandy and ale but also slang to describe a short, clumsy and dull person, like an egg. And if such a clumsy person were to fall down from a wall, it would be an ir- reversible event. Like the metaphorical lessons garnered from macabre nursery rhymes, our knowledge, wisdom and a healthy respect for the atmosphere will help to keep our airframes away from an irreversible event, and our tales (homonym and pun intended) from the paring knife. From our pilot-y perspec- tive, few things are as impressive as a
200-knot jet stream, a fire and brim- stone producing thunderstorm, the kid- ney rupturing lenticular clouds over a mountain range or the roll cloud in front of a microburst – if we’re on the ground looking up, that is. When airborne near this turbulence-producing phenom- enon, don’t be a clumsy egg and go to pieces by flying too close. Stay far away with radar on, eyes wide open and your tail tucked between your legs. It will likely add a couple of minutes to your ETA but may save you from a fairytale- like demon – and postpone the need for diapers.
Kevin Dingman has been flying for more than 40 years. He’s an ATP typed in the B737 and DC9 with 23,000 hours in his logbook. A retired Air Force major, he flew the F-16 and later performed as an USAF Civil Air Patrol Liaison Officer. He flies volun- teer missions for the Christian orga- niz tion Wings of Mercy, is employed by a major airline, and owns and operates a Beechcraft Duke.Contact Kevin at dinger10d@gmail.com.
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April 2019 / TWIN & TURBINE • 37