How do pilots know when they're about to hit turbulence?

Question

It seems like that little "fasten your seat belts sign always pops up, just before hitting pockets of turbulence. So i guess the question is, how do the pilots know they're about to hit it?

Answer 1

When they start getting whitecaps in their coffee cups.

Answer 2

they have like these things that can see ahead and they always check the weather.. since sometimes its wrong the turbulandce comes by surprise:)

Answer 3

Weather patterns and windpeed data from either their own or airport tower equipment.

Answer 4

when you see the guy sitting next to you tightening up his straps, it's a pretty good indication that something is about to hit.

Radar is totally useless for turbulence, rain showerss show up on radar and usually give a good smooth ride. Turbulence is caused by uneven heating of the air, and it starts moving around, hence you are more likely to get a smooth ride in the Winter when temps are more constant. Turbulence is normally more noticeable as you get closer to the surface.  As mentioned above CAT is invisible... it can hit you totally without warning, a good reason for theseat beltt sign going on is when the guyin frontt of you calls ACT and mentions that he is getting a rough ride. The most common being "light chop". You are not only helping out the guys behind you, but you are required to report any significant deviation from the normal atmospheric conditions. Typically if you can see that you are entering clouds, you put it on just incase. You can also put it on when the F/a's need a break and want everyone seated so they can get their carts in or out to start or finish their service.

Answer 5

Remember that scene in Jurassic park, when the glass starts shaking?  Yeah, their beer starts pulling that c**p on them.  Scary.

Answer 6

Someone please enlighten me, how does wx radar tell a pilot turbulence is in the vicinity?  

Answer 7

Weather radar.

Also, when approaching clouds -- turbulences are usually associated with could formations.

Answer 8

The truth is that they only know because aircraft ahead of them have flown through it and filed a PIREP with the local FSS

Answer 9

The pilots will always keep an eye on their radar in the cockpit and if they see some rocky stuff ahead, if there is they might ask for a different height or heading from Air traffic control depending on the severity to avoid it otherwise they might have to go right through it which is probably why the seat belt sign went on. Pilots are always updated with the latest weather so passengers can get the smoothest ride during a flight though weather patterns can change so quickly so pilots can sometimes get caught out.

Answer 10

Pilots can see clouds and weather ahead in some cases, and where there are fluffy clouds, there is often turbulence.

In other cases, other pilots who have already traveled the same route earlier may report turbulence to air traffic controllers, who then relay the information to pilots approaching the area.

In still other cases, the pilots are surprised just as the passengers are.  Clear-air turbulence (CAT) is quite common and gives no warning. It occurs when air masses moving in different directions or at different speeds rub against each other.  At the area where they meet, the air burbles around and produces turbulence.  CAT is unpredictable and sometimes quite bumpy, but it usually doesn't last for more than a minute or so—the time required for the airplane to move completely from one air mass to another.

If pilots have reason to believe that turbulence is coming up, they'll turn on the sign in advance.  Otherwise, they'll turn it on when the airplane encounters the turbulence.  It's important to sit down and fasten your seat belt when turbulence hits.  It won't hurt the airplane, but it can be severe enough to throw people around in the cabin if they aren't strapped in, and sometimes people are hurt (on rare occasions, they are killed, if they hit their heads or something).

Answer 11

There's no fancy scientific method for this.  Half the time, pilots can tell where it is bumpy by simply looking out the window (if there are white puffy clounds, storms, etc).  The other half of the time, ATC will inform them when the road gets bumpy.

That's about it.  As for the radar helping, well, stay away from yellow and red stuff and it won't be that bumpy.  

After a while, pilot's get a knack of figuring out what types of things will cause the bumps.

Answer 12

The wx radar can see ahead, and sure, if you're going into detected weather, there will be turbulence.  There is usually turbulence associated with "billowy" type clouds (c'mon av experts, hit me for using "billowy"!!!).  

Sometimes, at cruise, you can't see turbulence.  You get to expect it and when you feel the onset shimmy, you expect it will worsen.  There are types of turbulence that can be severe that just happen suddenly and without warning.  Clear Air Turbulence comes to mind.  That's why you are encouraged to keep your belt fastened when seated.

Answer 13

they have a radar wich predicts turbulence and other stuff

Answer 14

you can also use a PIREP which is a report of various weather conditions, including turbulence, made by other pilots while in the air.