What is severe turbulence?

What is severe turbulence?

• A. Slight changes in altitude
• B. Aircraft remains fully in control
• C. No movement
• D. Large abrupt changes in altitude/attitude. Usually causes large variations in airspeed

Answer: (D)

Severe turbulence means the aircraft experiences strong, abrupt disturbances to its flight path, causing large changes in altitude and attitude. These movements come with significant variations in indicated airspeed, so the airplane can feel and respond to sudden jolts rather than remaining steady. This is much more intense than light turbulence, which only causes small changes and the aircraft stays under control, and unlike calm air where there is no movement at all. So the defining feature is the combination of large, rapid changes in position and speed, which is precisely what this statement describes.

Severe turbulence means the aircraft experiences strong, abrupt disturbances to its flight path, causing large changes in altitude and attitude. These movements come with significant variations in indicated airspeed, so the airplane can feel and respond to sudden jolts rather than remaining steady. This is much more intense than light turbulence, which only causes small changes and the aircraft stays under control, and unlike calm air where there is no movement at all. So the defining feature is the combination of large, rapid changes in position and speed, which is precisely what this statement describes.