Whether transatlantic or within the USA, the flights I've had over the past two years have been terribly bumpy/turbulent. Is it El Nino and La Nina? Or is it something else? Is anyone else experiencing this same phenomenon? I love to travel but hate to fly, so I'm sick of this rough air. Hopefully someone can shed some light on this topic ....

Hi Kate, I feel exactly the same as you. I too have noticed that almost none of my flights in the past 2 years or so have been smooth (and I travel every month,mostly within Asia but every 3 months from Asia to Europe). But I don't notice anyone else on the plane that looks as nervous as I do when the turbulence starts! I think it is a common feature and whatever accidents have happened, I have never heard of any due to turbulence. I guess its just something we have to get used to. Ofcourse, you must be aware that flying is the safest means of transport. By the way, recently the turbulence in Asia has been so bad that a lady died because she had'nt fastened the seat belt and she hit her head and the air-hostess broke her elbow, but the flight landed safely! <BR>I have found that listening to music helps! Take care and happy landings. <BR>

Anyone else? Can any pilots out there explain this?! Does turbulence typically cause any safety problems? <BR>

I'm not a pilot (which should be obvious given my unsophisticated explanation of turbulence), just an aviation buff. Basically, turbulence is caused when the velocity of air exhibits random and irregular fluctuations, that is the velocity changes from point to point. It can be generated in different ways, by sudden windshear or by the hot air as it rises, for example. While pilots are trained to recognize the warning signs, much turbulence goes unpredicted because of its suddeness. The higher the plane flies, the less turbulence. Unfortunately, it is a problem that is a fact of nature, has always existed and will never go away. However, planes are designed to handle that stress and still remain the safest mode of transportation. You are more in danger of seriously hurting yourself during turbulent flights if you keep your seatbelt off, than your plane actually going down. <BR>

Kate: <BR>Hair raising experience coming home on Iberia #6251, Mad-JFK on 2/2/99. Still up at 39000 feet, only 200 miles from <BR>NY in the Boston area & you can imagine the descent - now a left turn - now a right turn - turning so many times -everyone holding onto the seat in front, etc. Plane felt like it was ripping apart. We were 4 hours late departing MAD & I guess on timers were given priority. No clapping on landing that flight, just everyone looking to get the heck off. <BR>Bob K.

Oooh, Bob, that sounds awful. Glad you landed "safely". My last flight back from the UK, a year ago this March (Spring warm air/cold air mixing in the atmosphere), was pretty nasty for about half an hour. The turbulence got so bad the pilots even asked the flight attendants to sit down and strap themselves in. At 34,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, I was terrified. Then, my flight back from Madrid this last October (Fall warm air/cold air this time), was about as bumpy. Made me hesitant to hop on another transatlantic flight any time soon - especially during Spring or Fall! <BR>