There are a number of benefits gained from the knowledge of turbulence hazards provided by TAPS:
- Reduced injuries to flight attendants and passengers through enhanced turbulence awareness, avoidance of turbulence through flight deviations, and turbulence encounter preparation (having passengers and flight attendants seated with seatbelts fastened and loose items secured).
- mproved collaboration on turbulence hazards and flight changes between pilots and dispatchers/controllers.
- Improved ability to select altitudes that best balance the need for flight safety (least turbulent altitude) and operations efficiency of the aircraft (optimal cruise altitude).
- Enables more judicious use of airspace and can lead to potential savings in fuel and reductions in flight delays.
- Assists Meteorologists in validating and/or enhancing their weather forecasts.
Testimonials
"With these tools [TAPS and Enhanced Turbulence Radar], we'll have better knowledge of where turbulence is and we won't cry wolf as much. We can get people to sit down when they really need to sit down."
"From the airline standpoint, we see tremendous benefit from TAPS in identifying areas of turbulence. In addition to its obvious safety benefits, the system may potentially identify areas of airspace that would otherwise be blocked from traffic because of the inadequate turbulence detection tools that we possess today. In this regard, TAPS gives us some much needed hard data that can help us make better operational decisions and save money in a wide range of areas. "
Retired Air Lines Captain
"Together with TAPS, the enhanced turbulence radar effort marks one of the most exciting developments in the struggle to deliver better quality turbulence hazard information to flight crews and potentially other aviation user groups."
Air Lines Chief Technical Pilot
"Airlines do not have the time and resources to devote to products that are incomplete or whose operational relevance is as yet unclear. TAPS, on the other hand, has been validated and is already beginning to have some measure of relevance in my operation."
Air Lines Chief Meteorologist
"At last, a metric that can give a truly objective, easily assimilated assessment of turbulence."
Airline Chief Flight Control Technical Services
"From a maintenance standpoint, TAPS gives us the real-time ability to accurately and objectively determine the need for airframe inspections following excessive loads due to turbulence and other phenomena. No other metric that I know of can do this, and we are very much looking forward to implementing TAPS in order to satisfy this need, reducing delays and cancellations due to unnecessary airframe inspections. As one of the primary initial drivers of engaging in the NASA effort, that application has a direct benefit to the traveling public."
Airline Chief General Manager, Avionics Engineering
"Excellent Tool [Integrated Turbulence Hazard Cockpit Display]. I never would have thought of it. Invaluable in tight airspace of commercial aviation."
Airline First Officer
"The TAPS and E-Turb Radar Systems will be a great addition to the cockpit. "
Airline Captain
