Nothing can take the fun out of flying quicker than turbulence.
Flying down a bumpy road can range from annoying to downright frightening, occasionally even resulting in injury to passengers or airplanes or both. What's so unfair about turbulence is that it's completely invisible and, in most cases, almost impossible to do anything about. However, there are a number of clues that can help you avoid or at least improve a rough ride and some good advice on what to do when you find yourself in the middle of the bumps. Each year, about 58 passengers in the United States are injured by turbulence and, since 1981, two passengers have actually died. Because rough air is a problem that affects all pilots and passengers, a considerable effort is going into avoiding it.