Thanks to the anonymized data pooled by 21 participating airlines to the IATA Turbulence Aware platform, by now a total of over 380 million turbulence observations were generated to mitigate the impact of turbulence! Over 700 million passengers have enjoyed a safer and more comfortable travel experience. As evidenced by a remarkable YOY 23% increase in our data coverage worldwide with additional 300 reporting tails from both exiting and newly joined airlines. This growth not only amplifies our reach but also underscores our commitment to making an effective solution to the turbulence mitigation across the globe. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey towards positive change! Together, we're shaping a safer future!
We are thrilled to extend our warmest welcome to Cathay Pacific, who officially joined Turbulence Aware in January 2024. Cathay Pacific’s established network serves as a vital bridge connecting Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland with the rest of the world. The airline’s participation not only strengthens the TA community but also brings valuable insights and contributions to our shared journey in turbulence mitigation. Their engagement reflects a growing interest in the region to the data-driven solution to mitigate turbulence, optimize the flight path and fuel burn efficiency.
Also as of January 2024, another prominent airline, Emirates, began trialing the IATA Turbulence Aware and started reporting Eddy Dissipation Rate(EDR) data to the program! Emirates connects over 140 destinations in more than 80 countries. We are more than happy to include EK to the TA family!
IATA is expanding the transmission of its Turbulence Aware data for use within industry-leading aviation solutions by The Weather Company, which serves a majority of North American commercial airlines and many others globally. With this enhancement, participating airlines will soon be able to access EDR turbulence data directly through Fusion™ and Pilotbrief® tools by The Weather Company. IATA Turbulence Aware will be enabled as an additional data layer within these tools, allowing pilots, dispatchers and flight planners to have needed turbulence observations integrated directly into their mission critical applications in one place rather than relying on multiple screens.
The Turbulence Aware data platform has demonstrated our commitment to the technical performance excellence, ensuring consistent access, rapid system response, and uninterrupted service for our users. The following report details the IATA Met Viewer’s SLA metrics, specially for the production environment, during the timeframe of Jan. 1, 2024 to Mar. 31, 2024:
| SLA Metric | Target | mar. reported | Feb. reported | Jan. reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| System Availability | 99.90% | 99.97% | 100% | 100% |
| End-to-End Latency | 30 seconds | 0.054 seconds | 0.05 seconds | 0.05 seconds |
| Time to First Byte | 3 seconds | 0.14 seconds | 0.13 seconds | 0.11 seconds |
| Developer Portal Availability | 99.00% | 100% | 99.99% | 100% |
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Turbulence is one of many different risks within aircraft operations. Both IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and IATA Standard Safety Assessment (ISSA) standards require that flight operators and cabin crew have comprehensive policies and procedures to identify and address turbulence and adverse weather conditions. Comprehensive training in turbulence management, clear communication protocols, and adherence to IOSA and ISSA standards are essential in mitigating the risks associated with turbulence, helping to ensure the safety of passengers and crew, and fostering sustainable aviation practices. Tools like IATA Turbulence Aware can help mitigate injuries and accidents caused by turbulence events as part of a Safety Management System. It provides real-time data to pilots and dispatchers, allowing for safer and more efficient flight paths, better cabin service planning, and avoiding turbulent areas.
WestJet has been a part of the IATA Turbulence Aware platform since June 2023. John Mulder, the Chief Pilot and Flight Technician at WestJet, emphasizes the importance of Turbulence Aware for safety. Amidst the rise in global extreme weather, TA serves as a crucial tool for identifying safer flight paths. At WestJet, it is integrated via the Jeppesen FD Pro app, enhancing support for dispatchers and pilots and streamlining their communication. It assists in safety investigations, pre-flight planning, and post-flight analytics. Looking ahead, John encourages more airlines to join the TA platform to increase data coverage globally and further boost aviation safety.
IATA is in the process of revamping an advisory group for the Turbulence Aware program. This initiative is aimed at enhancing collaboration and providing strategic guidance on the program's development. Further details regarding the advisory group's objectives, composition, and the scope of work will be shared in the upcoming weeks. Please stay tuned for these forthcoming announcements! To register, please email IATAturbulence@iata.org.
In our commitment to continuous improvement, we value your opinions and insights. As part of our efforts to enhance the TA Program further, we will be launching a user survey in Q2 2024. This survey will provide an opportunity for both existing and potential users to share their thoughts on how we can refine and elevate the program to better meet their needs. To take part, please reach out us by emailing IATAturbulence@iata.org. Your feedback is instrumental in guiding the development of Turbulence Aware program. We look forward to hearing from you!
