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Rising turbulence prompts gov't to bolster radar, air crew
A Singapore Airlines aircraft is seen on the tarmac after making an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, May 21. One passenger died and 71 were injured when the flight hit rough turbulences. Reuters-Yonhap
By Ko Dong-hwan
Korean carriers report 14,820 cases of turbulence
The government has introduced new regulations aimed at protecting the country's carriers from the growing threat of severe air turbulence, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, Thursday.
The measures were introduced in response to a rise in flight accidents caused by turbulence globally. The most recent incident involved a Korean carrier in May, where 12 passengers on T’way Airlines sustained either serious or minor injuries.
The ministry has introduced four new measures developed with input from experts across the aviation industry, academia, and research fields.
The authority will first expand data sharing between the country’s state-run and private meteorological agencies and airlines. This will provide pilots with real-time information about existing turbulence, allowing for better-informed flight decisions.
Private meteorological data services, such as International Air Transport Association (IATA) Turbulence Aware and Weather Service International Total Turbulence Automated Alerting (WSI-TTA), will be made accessible to all flights, including low-cost carriers (LCCs).
To keep pilots better informed, the ministry will also expand the availability of its Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) to more pilots. Additionally, a new aviation meteorological information-sharing platform will be introduced in collaboration with the country’s Aviation Meteorological Office.
Another measure focuses on training pilots and flight attendants to respond better to turbulence during flights by regularly offering seminars and workshops for flight crew.
To improve passenger awareness of turbulence, the ministry will mandate that airlines make more frequent cabin announcements regarding turbulence. Additionally, the authority will tighten guidelines for ensuring passenger safety by limiting in-flight food services during landing and requiring that seat belts remain fastened at all times.
The ministry will also request that member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) share their collected turbulence data. This collaboration aims to enhance global monitoring of turbulence threats. Representatives of 193 ICAO member countries will meet in August and October this year to discuss improvements to the global air navigation system.
Korean airlines reported 14,820 instances of turbulence in the first half of this year, marking a 78 percent increase compared to 2019. During this period, turbulence was the cause of seven out of every 10 aviation accidents.
Turbulence has increasingly contributed to aviation accidents globally. In the past three years, turbulence was responsible for 111 accidents, which constitutes 61 percent of the total aviation accidents during that period. This rate is higher compared to the past decade, where turbulence accounted for 421 out of 792 aviation accidents, or 53 percent.
This year has already seen 15 turbulence-related accidents resulting in at least one victim. The first fatal incident occurred on May 21 aboard a Singapore Airlines flight traveling from London to Singapore, where one person died and 71 others were injured.
The most recent accident took place on July 2, when 30 passengers on an Air Europa flight were injured. Prior to that, on May 19, a T’way Airlines flight experienced turbulence that resulted in two serious injuries and 10 minor injuries. Additionally, on May 26, a Qatar Airways flight reported injuries to six passengers and six cabin crew members.