Airlines need to revise safety norms: Meteorological study

Mumbai: A recently released meteorological study revealed that we really do not know enough about the effects on turbulence and so the safety norms followed by airlines worldwide would need to be revised. Currently, the flight safety norms dictate that a thunderstorm should be avoided by at least 20 nautical miles (about 37 kms). But the study done by the Australian Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science recommends a change in aircraft turbulence guidelines, that is, a larger separation. The study says that turbulence can affect aircraft up to 100 kilometres from a thunderstorm. The researchers came across instances where a separation of 20 nm from the edge of thunderstorm was not safe enough. The findings are vital as there are several recorded instances of unexpected turbulence mid-flight leading to passenger injuries. Studies say that about 97 percent of injuries caused by turbulence during flight occur because the passenger concerned was not wearing seat belts.
28/06/12 Manju V/Times of India

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Categories: Safety Jun 2012