The Invisible Shark in the Sky

    SANTA MONICA, CA, September 05, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For many people the movie Jaws left a deep seated fear about the ocean. It would be impossible for someone who has recently seen the movie to not think about what may lurk below them as they swim in open waters. But, sharks are not alone in creating a fear that prevents people from doing what they otherwise would. Clear Air Turbulence or CAT, is an invisible event in the sky that prevents some people from flying.

Clear Air Turbulence is the name given to a phenomenon that occurs in upper air wind shear when masses of moving air traveling at different rates, meet at altitude. This condition is invisible to the naked eye and conventional radar. There is some sophisticated equipment that can detect Clear Air Turbulence. A scintillometer and Doppler LIDARs have that capability of picking up these powerful forces in the jetstream. Pilots do have upper level wind flow charts which can depict the likelihood of CAT.

It is a myth that CAT are actually pockets of air that a plane falls into. In reality, columns of fast moving air are pushing down on the plane and cause it to drop altitude at a rapid rate. This normally occurs above mountain ranges where orographic or thermal updrafts are created. Some air is rushing up while other columns are pushing down. When the forces are great enough, the plane can be tossed around violently. Since CAT is sometimes hard to predict, it is wise to wear your seat belt at all times.

Wake turbulence is another form of CAT that was made well known by the popular movie Top Gun. The movie referred to the phenomenon as "jet wash" but the definition is the same. Basically, the wings of a plane create their own clear air turbulence. Each wingtip throws off a vortex of air. In jumbo jets this vortex is enough to flip over a small plane if it is following too closely. There have been several crashes related to the wake turbulence that a jetliner produces. The FAA has specific guidelines as to how far apart aircraft must be in order to avoid wake turbulence.

A phobia of sharks should not keep you from enjoying the world's beaches and likewise, clear air turbulence should not prevent you from seeing the world. So next time you feel a couple of bumps in the air, you can tell your seat mate exactly what is going on. Just remember to keep your tray table up and your seat belt fastened.

About Bailey & Partners

Bailey & Partners is an experienced law firm that handles complex litigation matters. The firm only takes a limited number of cases to ensure the quality and outcome of every family that they represent. Bailey & Partners have taken numerous Personal Injury, Aviation and Business Litigation cases to trial and have had very favorable outcomes. Visit their websites at www.baileypartners.com or call them at 310-392-5000.

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