对于经常乘坐飞机的人来说，气流的增加意味着什么

对于经常乘坐飞机的人来说，气流的增加意味着什么

Severe turbulence like the episode that injured dozens on a recent Air Canada flight to Hawaii is becoming more frequent. Though the experience would certainly be unsettling, what does it really mean for air travelers?

加拿大航空公司最近飞往夏威夷的航班遭遇了严重的气流颠簸，造成数十人受伤，这种情况正变得越来越频繁。虽然这种体验肯定会令人不安，但它对航空旅客来说究竟意味着什么呢?

There's more shaking, rattling and rolling going on up there. (Photo: UMB-O/Shutterstock)

Scientists with the World Meteorological Organization say the amount of turbulence in the air is going to at least double by 2050. That means flying is going to get a lot more bouncy, but not necessarily a lot more dangerous.

世界气象组织的科学家们表示，到2050年，空气中湍流的数量将至少增加一倍。这意味着飞行将变得更有弹性，但不一定更危险。

Veteran pilots and aeroengineers claim there's little reason to believe a plane will crash because of turbulence. Planes are made to withstand even the most extreme weather scenarios and climate conditions. (Many aerospace companies use facilities like the McKinley Climatic Laboratory to test parts and aircraft.) And for pilots, navigating through turbulence isn't a particularly scary proposition.

资深飞行员和航空工程师表示，没有理由相信飞机会因为气流而坠毁。飞机甚至可以承受最极端的天气情况和气候条件。(许多航空公司使用麦金利气候实验室等设施来测试零部件和飞机。)对于飞行员来说，在湍流中航行并不特别可怕。

As the seatbelt sign flashes and the cabin crew is asked to take their seats, Patrick Smith, who writes the Ask The Pilot blog, says the concern in the cockpit is usually more about spilling a glass of orange juice than about anything aeronautically serious.

《飞行员博客》的作者帕特里克·史密斯说，当安全带指示灯闪烁，乘务员被要求就座时，驾驶舱里最让人担心的通常不是什么严重的航空问题，而是打翻一杯橙汁。

Pilots do take turbulence seriously, but technology and forecasting are so far advanced that "bumps" are predicted and planned for well in advance. That's why a good pilot often gives a heads-up report even before takeoff, or just minutes after.

飞行员确实很重视湍流，但技术和预测都非常先进，“颠簸”的预测和计划都提前了很长时间。这就是为什么一个优秀的飞行员经常在起飞前或起飞后几分钟就会给出一个预先报告。

Sometimes, it's best not to look down. (Photo: Darika Sutchiewcharn/Shutterstock)

To avoid bumpy air, it's best to fly when it's cooler during wintertime or during early morning hours or later at night.

为了避免颠簸的空气，最好在冬季、清晨或夜间较凉爽的时候飞行。

Still, turbulence isn't all just hot air. Mountain ranges, the jet stream and stormy weather can all bring about turbulence.

不过，湍流并不仅仅是热空气。山脉、急流和暴风雨天气都会造成湍流。

The vast majority of people injured during flight turbulence are hurt because they aren't wearing seat belts; that's reason enough to mind that seat belt sign.

绝大多数在飞机颠簸中受伤的人受伤是因为他们没有系安全带，这给了我们足够的理由来注意安全带标志。

If those facts don’t quite tame your nerves, here’s a statistic that should provide some comfort: Only 34 people of the nearly 800 million airline passengers who travel each year get injured on account of turbulence — and remember, the majority of them are flight attendants.

如果这些事实还不能完全平息你的紧张情绪，下面的一项统计数据应该能给你一些安慰:每年乘坐飞机旅行的近8亿名乘客中，只有34人因乱流受伤——记住，他们中的大多数是空乘人员。