Emirates incorporates initiatives to reduce unexpected severe turbulence

Faced with the growing challenge that turbulence poses to airlines due to its increased frequency and intensity, Emirates has adopted a proactive, data-driven approach to mitigate the occasional inconveniences it can cause.

The airline has implemented a diverse and multifaceted strategy that leverages various information sources to provide accurate, real-time turbulence data. This approach has helped reduce unexpected encounters with severe turbulence across its network, with new initiatives launched last year further enhancing the onboard experience for both passengers and crew.

Captain Hassan Alhammadi, Emirates' Senior Vice President of Flight Operations, says: “We recognize that turbulence remains a challenge that cannot be completely eliminated, but we are committed to doing everything possible to minimize unexpected encounters with severe turbulence by collaborating with partners who share our vision of using advanced technologies and embracing artificial intelligence to improve operations. While we are still in the early stages, we are already seeing the validation of the potential benefits these systems can bring. While we cannot promise turbulence-free flights, these initiatives have contributed to a significant reduction in unexpected severe turbulence incidents over the past year, helping to make travel safer and more comfortable for our customers.”

He adds: “Our approach with weather forecasting and technology partners, as well as our active participation in IATA’s Turbulence Aware program, also allows us to present valuable data and information to the wider aviation industry as we work collectively to address this growing weather challenge.”

Emirates’ current weather detection setup combines SkyPath, Lufthansa Systems’ Lido mPilot, and IATA’s Turbulence Aware as a complementary configuration, delivering groundbreaking innovation through artificial intelligence, machine learning, crowdsourced real-time turbulence data, and pilot reports. SkyPath: Emirates partnered with SkyPath last year to develop and enhance AI- and machine-learning-based weather forecasts that identify areas of turbulence missed by conventional methods. The SkyPath platform integrates real-time turbulence reports from thousands of aircraft with cutting-edge analytics, using advanced AI and machine learning to generate accurate predictions, even for areas with no current flight activity or turbulence that is difficult to detect in clear air.

SkyPath gathers information from a variety of sources: eddy dissipation rate (EDR) data for universal turbulence measurements, automatic-broadcast dependent surveillance (ADSB) transponder data, and SkyPath's proprietary iPad accelerometer technology, which translates device movement into precise turbulence measurements to provide pilots with actionable insights. This AI-powered, multi-source approach ensures global coverage and industry-leading prediction accuracy.

Lido mPilot weather forecasts: Emirates' long-term collaboration with Lufthansa Systems delivers a customized mobile navigation chart app tailored to the airline's operational requirements. Through partnerships with sources such as the German Meteorological Service, Lido mPilot provides highly accurate weather reports, real-time cloud and convection data, and turbulence and icing forecasts to enhance pilots' situational awareness. Emirates continuously collaborates with the Lido team to improve the quality of weather data and global coverage.

IATA Turbulence Aware: Since joining IATA's Turbulence Aware program last year, Emirates has actively contributed to and consumed real-time turbulence data from its extensive network across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia. This data is fed into IATA's global turbulence platform, which aggregates input from participating airlines worldwide to provide a comprehensive, real-time view of atmospheric conditions.

By integrating this data into its electronic navigation chart application, Emirates provides its pilots with real-time turbulence visualizations. This enables more informed decision-making in the cockpit, allowing crews to anticipate and avoid areas of turbulence, ultimately improving passenger comfort, operational safety, and fuel efficiency.

Source: Emirates.