How long can turbulence last on a flight?

Periods of turbulence last an average of only 10 to 15 minutes, though it may seem like an eternity. Dr. Chris Manno, a pilot, professor, author, and current Boeing 737 captain for a major U.S. airline, is trained to deal with turbulence, but notes that airplanes are just as primed to take whatever weather is ahead.



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Severe turbulence can cause a plane to drop so suddenly that pilots temporarily lose control. But, again, that's not enough to crash the plane. That's not to say it's never happened. In 1966, human error and turbulence combined to bring a plane down over Mount Fuji.

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While we mostly try to avoid any sort of turbulence to give passengers the smoothest ride possible, we worry mostly about turbulence at or above moderate. We try to counter turbulence by flying around known areas or change altitude.

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Severe turbulence causes large and abrupt changes in altitude and/or attitude and, usually, large variations in indicated airspeed. The airplane may momentarily be out of control. Occupants of the airplane will be forced violently against their seat belts.

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All you see is what's outside the window. While it may feel unnerving sitting on a bumpy flight traveling hundreds of miles per hour at thousands of feet in the air, there's no reason to panic or worry. Turbulence is unavoidable. It's experienced on almost every flight to some degree (usually light).

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They follow well-established protocols to handle such situations seamlessly. Each aircraft is equipped with a designated Turbulence Penetration Speed, which is slower than the regular cruising speed. During turbulent encounters, pilots can reduce their speed to this level, ensuring a smoother flight.

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While turbulence can feel scary, airplanes are designed to withstand massive amounts of it. A plane cannot be flipped upside-down, thrown into a tailspin, or otherwise flung from the sky by even the mightiest gust or air pocket, wrote pilot Patrick Smith on his site, AskThePilot.com.

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Routes with the Most Turbulence
  • New York to London.
  • Seoul to Dallas.
  • Flying into certain airports near the equator. There are certain airports which are located close to the equator which means frequent thunderstorms, especially in certain seasons. ...
  • Flying into Reno, Nevada. ...
  • London to South Africa.


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Winter has strong winds and blizzards, and summer's hot heat can create unstable air, thunderstorms, and tropical storms. That means flying during the holidays often means more turbulence than other times of the year. So if possible, avoid flying between December and February or June and August for a smoother flight.

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How To Deal With Turbulence
  1. 1) Understand why turbulence occurs. ...
  2. 2) Know the facts and stats. ...
  3. 3) Buckle up. ...
  4. 4) Have faith in your pilot. ...
  5. 5) Breathing exercises. ...
  6. 6) Do an activity to put your mind elsewhere. ...
  7. 7) Sit in a seat that is good for avoiding turbulence. ...
  8. 8) Fly at times when turbulence is less severe.


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It's almost unheard of for turbulence to cause a crash, but it can lead to costly repairs for carriers. Usually, the damage is to cabin components like seats and overhead bins when luggage falls out or people hit them. Turbulence-related damage, delays and injuries cost airlines up to $500 million per year.

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When an aircraft experiences turbulence, the plane can drop or change altitude suddenly. This is why pilots always caution passengers to buckle up and stay seated when they are experiencing flight turbulence. The sudden movements put passengers at risk.

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Earlier in the day is the safest time of day to fly. More accidents occur later in the day when the pilots are tired, especially when the weather is bad and there have been delays. How does weather influence air safety? Weather is a factor in a majority of accidents.

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Which Plane Handles Turbulence Best? The bigger the plane, the better! Any plane can experience turbulence, but larger planes weigh more and don't feel the impact of wind changes as much as a smaller plane. Specifically, the Airbus A380 handles turbulence very well!

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An especially insidious form of turbulence has gotten worse because of climate change, according to new research. It's turbulence that forms in cloudless skies that's typically invisible to a plane's radar, called clear-air turbulence. And it's projected to become a bigger problem as the world warms.

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To predict turbulence, experts rely on flight data and modern technologies such as Enhanced Turbulence (EDR) mapping and weather radar systems. EDR provides a real-time measurement of turbulence intensity, which helps airlines and pilots make informed decisions regarding the safest flight path.

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“I have flown IFR in moderate to heavy rain many times and not experienced problems, but—there is always one of those isn't there—most often heavy rain is associated with moderate or greater turbulence, which is a problem. But the turbulence is caused by convective activity, not precipitation.

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The disruption in the air current which helps a plane to fly results in shakes and it is referred to as turbulence. Also known as air pockets, turbulence can cause a sudden loss of altitude temporarily.

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Autopilot is designed to cope with turbulence and will keep the aircraft close to the intended flight path without the risk of overcorrection. The recommendation is to keep autopilot ON during a turbulence encounter.

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Ideally fasten the belt outside of your blanket so it's visible to the crew as well. This stops them waking you up during turbulence (provided you can sleep through it). Make use of the seat recline option, but be courteous.

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