Emirates Airlines has adopted a proactive approach rooted in data analysis to mitigate the impact of turbulence on travelers’ experiences. This strategy focuses on planning flights that are smoother and safer, particularly in light of the increasing prevalence and severity of turbulence affecting airlines worldwide.
The airline employs a multi-faceted strategy that integrates various data sources and advanced analytical techniques to deliver timely and accurate information about turbulence. This approach has successfully reduced the number of unexpected severe turbulence incidents across Emirates’ flight network, thanks to initiatives launched last year aimed at enhancing the onboard experience for both passengers and crew.
Captain Hassan Al Hammadi, Senior Vice President of Air Operations at Emirates, stated: “We recognize that turbulence presents a continuous challenge that cannot be entirely avoided. However, we are committed to minimizing unexpected encounters through collaboration with partners who share our vision of leveraging advanced technologies and artificial intelligence to improve operations. Although we are still in the early stages, we are already seeing tangible results that demonstrate the effectiveness of these systems.”
He added, “While we cannot promise completely turbulence-free flights, these initiatives have significantly reduced surprise and severe turbulence incidents over the past year, making journeys safer and more comfortable for our customers. Through our multi-layered approach in collaboration with meteorological partners and modern technologies, alongside our active participation in the IATA Turbulence Aware program, we contribute valuable data and insights to the global aviation sector as we collectively tackle this growing challenge.”
Emirates’ current weather monitoring system combines technology from SkyPath, Lido by Lufthansa Systems, and the IATA Turbulence Aware program to form a comprehensive system that merges artificial intelligence and machine learning with real-time data collected from flights and pilot reports, as outlined below:
SkyPath: Emirates partnered with SkyPath last year to enhance turbulence prediction capabilities using AI and machine learning, aiming to identify areas that traditional methods may overlook. The system relies on a community model gathering real-time reports from thousands of aircraft to provide forecasts for regions currently devoid of atmospheric activity, including areas known as “clear air turbulence.”
Data reaches pilots through multiple channels, including Enhanced Dissipation Rate (EDR) reports as a global measurement standard, ADS-B automated broadcast data, and SkyPath’s proprietary acceleration measuring technology installed on iPads, which converts device motion into precise data about turbulence. This integrated approach ensures comprehensive global coverage and high accuracy in forecasts.
Lido mPilot: Emirates’ long-term partnership with Lido focuses on developing a tailored navigation application that meets the airline’s operational needs. This app provides pilots with precise and updated navigational information, including real-time data on cloud conditions, thermal activities, turbulence potential, and ice formation. It relies on reliable sources such as the German Meteorological Service for high-accuracy reports, enhancing pilots’ awareness of prevailing weather conditions. Emirates continues to closely collaborate with Lido to improve the quality of airborne data and expand its global coverage.
IATA Turbulence Aware: Since joining the IATA Turbulence Aware program last year, Emirates has actively contributed to the platform by sharing data collected from its regular flights across its extensive networks in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and more. This has enhanced industry-wide knowledge regarding the prediction and management of turbulence incidents with greater precision and efficiency. Emirates’ navigational mapping applications utilize the program’s global, real-time data collected from thousands of flights daily, allowing pilots to view automatic turbulence reports directly within the applications, enabling proactive adjustments to flight paths and improving safety and fuel efficiency.