A Total Of 44 Injuries Reported To Airliner Passengers And Crew

The FAA has released a report indicating that the number of injuries attributable to turbulence experienced by airliners doubled from 2015 to 2016. 

According to statistics posted on the FAA website, there were 21 total turbulence-related injuries in 2015. That number climbed to 44 in 2016.

Clear air turbulence is air movement created by atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts or thunderstorms. It can be unexpected and can happen when the sky appears to be clear. The FAA says that passengers can easily prevent injuries from unexpected turbulence by keeping their seat belt buckled at all times.

Working together through the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST), the FAA developed guidance material to help air carriers and other operators prevent turbulence injuries. CAST develops an integrated, data-driven strategy to reduce the commercial aviation fatality risk in the United States and promotes government and industry safety initiatives throughout the world. Some of the material responds to investigative work from the NTSB. The focus of the material is to help air carriers avoid the conditions that cause turbulence and minimize the risks when airplanes do encounter it. This impacts the operations and training of flight crews, flight attendants, dispatchers and managers. 

The FAA recommends that air carriers:

• improve dispatch procedures by keeping communication channels open full-time;
• include turbulence in weather briefings;
• promote real-time information sharing between pilot and dispatcher;
• reinforce the air carrier’s turbulence avoidance policy through dispatcher training;
• consider rerouting using automation, atmospheric modeling, and data displays; and
• use all applicable weather data as well as reporting and forecasting graphics.

The FAA also encourages air carriers to use operating procedures and training to prevent turbulence injuries, emphasize the importance of flight attendant’s personal safety, promote communication and coordination, and gather data and review the air carrier’s history of turbulence encounters and injuries.

The NTSB requires airlines to report serious injuries and fatalities.  A serious injury is “any injury that (1) requires the individual to be hospitalized for more than 48 hours, commencing within seven days from the date the injury was received; (2) results in a fracture of any bone (except simple fractures of fingers, toes, or nose); (3) causes severe hemorrhages, nerve, muscle, or tendon damage; (4) involves any internal organ; or (5) involves second-or third-degree burns, or any burns affecting more than five percent of the body surface.” The FAA tracks these reports, but not general incidents of turbulence.

(Source: FAA fact sheet)

FMI: Fact Sheet