Ask Captain Dan! Ask Your Questions About Flying – Turbulence – May 31, 2011

Toronto ON – Pilot Dan Baz is answering your flying questions here on the Cornwall Free News.

If you have a question about flying you can email Captain Dan or post below.

Question
While flying through turbulent air, the Captain said that he was looking for smooth air.  What did he mean by that?
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Question sent by Lynn
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Answer

Turbulence is caused by  swirling air in horizontal direction or by vertical updrafts and downdrafts.  This air movement, depending on the weather system in the area, can cover a large area horizontally as well as vertically.  At times the area of this turbulent air is only a few thousand feet tall.  Therefore, traffic permitting, a pilot can, by climbing or descending to another altitude, fly out of a turbulent area and get into a smooth air for a smooth and more comfortable flight.
Have a question for the Captain ?  Send it to Captain Dan Baz    captaindanbaz@yahoo.com Every week a question from the readers will be selected and answer posted in this column.

A bit more about Captain Dan:

“Captain Dan Baz enrolled in Flight School at the age of 16.

He has completed studies in Aircraft Engineering and Master of Business Administration. He has been at the controls of many different types of aircraft, from single engine Cessnas to large intercontinental jets on global routes.

Over the last four decades he has flown thousands of hours up in the blue sky.”

Best Western

1 Comment

  1. Are there levels of flying licenses similar to Ontario vehicle drivers graduated licenses? Are they provincial or federal?

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