In flying in the first type of “dead air,” the problem that occurs is the disturbed air left behind the plane as a result of moving through the air. This disturbed air comes from two sources. The first is wake turbulence.

In aviation, the term "dead air" usually refers to a specific atmospheric condition where there is no significant wind movement in any direction. This typically occurs during a stable high-pressure system, often in the early morning or late evening. For pilots, "dead air" means the aircraft's performance is extremely predictable because there is no headwind to increase lift or tailwind to increase ground speed. However, in the context of flight communications, "dead air" refers to periods of silence on the radio frequency when neither the pilot nor the Air Traffic Controller is speaking. This can be stressful for inexperienced pilots who may wonder if their radio has failed. Finally, in a more technical sense, "dead air space" can refer to unventilated pockets of air within the aircraft structure or between window panes. When someone says they are "flying in dead air," they are usually describing a very smooth, "glassy" flight experience where the wings feel perfectly still, free from the bumps of thermals or the shifting gusts of more active weather systems.