Hate turbulence during your flights? Well, researchers at NASA’s Langley Research Center and AeroTech Research have developed an “automatic turbulence reporting system” and testing it on Delta Airlines passenger planes.
The Turbulence Auto-PIREP System (TAPS) has been installed on about 80 jets with hopes that this new technology will improve air travel safety. Piolets can maneuver around turbulence with earlier detection, or prepare the crew and passengers better. In combination with NASA and NOAA improved weather reporting, airline travel may actually become less vulnerable to weather conditions.
“TAPS automatically broadcasts turbulence encounter reports from aircraft and allows other planes and people on the ground to use this information,” said NASA’s Turbulence Prediction and Warning Systems project manager, Jim Watson. “Pilots describe turbulence encounters over their radios and by text reports called Pilot Reports (PIREPS). They tend to under-report when they encounter rough air, because they’re busy trying to fly through or around it,” he added.
“TAPS provides real-time turbulence information that has never been available,” said Paul Robinson, President of AeroTech Research. “The beauty of TAPS is, it is only software and uses equipment already on the aircraft, making it inexpensive and easy to install.”
