⛰️ RIDGE TOPS
🚨 Turbulence creates two problems for aviators: loss of control and stress on the aircraft. Strong turbulence can nose you over or lift a wing wildly or even stall you by rapidly changing your angle of attack. When this happens close to the ground it is disconcerting at best. Such turbulence can also produce gust loads that can break or fold certain aircraft. To combat the first problem we need to speed up for quicker control. To combat the second problem we need to slow down so as to reduce the suddenness of the gusts. It is obvious we need a compromise here. ⚙️ The tried and true rule in most aviation circles is to fly 1.5 times your stall speed in turbulence to help prevent an inadvertent stall and avoid overloading your wings. Mechanical turbulence exists close to the terrain in its most virulent form. You can avoid it by remaining above it (several hundred feet up), waiting until the wind abates or landing in flat open terrain. Close to the ground mechanical turbulence has a preferred eddy orientation with the axis perpendicular to the wind as shown in the illustration due to the rolling action caused by the ground. This is especially true in the lower several feet. Within 60 feet (20 m) of the surface the eddies become oriented in all directions with random energy. What this means is that a landing into the wind brings you face to face with turbulence that tends to cause pitch changes, unless it meets one wing only. Good control speed is in order during a turbulent landing. ☀️ Thermal turbulence can be anywhere from the ground up to the thermal-based clouds. However, it will be worse near inversion layers and in high winds. Sometimes these winds are only at certain levels or in specific areas so can be avoided. Despite the normal presence of higher winds aloft, thermal turbulence is often less severe the higher we climb for the thermal gets more organized and broadens out. In any case, the best way to avoid thermal turbulence is to wait until solar heating tapers off. ✂️ Shear turbulence generally can be escaped by descending below the shearing layer. If you are powering up and encounter shear, simply power back down. On the other hand, if you are powerless and descend into shear all you can do is hold on and drop below it. Shear rarely extends to the ground. 🚁 Avoiding turbulence from other aircraft is of utmost importance, especially if the aircraft is larger than you. The details are described in flying manuals, but the main idea is to avoid the downwind side of the other aircraft's path for several minutes. Helicopters create a terrific amount of turbulence that lingers below their flight path. Avoid this deadly air by heading the other way.
