How does turbulence impact air traffic control (ATC)?

Turbulence significantly impacts air traffic control by reducing usable airspace and increasing frequency congestion. When turbulence is present, particularly severe turbulence, it necessitates the alteration of flight paths for safety. Aircraft may need to avoid certain turbulent areas, which leads to a reduction in the available airspace for operations. This can create a scenario where aircraft must be rerouted or held at certain waypoints, leading to delays and a backlog of flights waiting for clearance to proceed.

Additionally, with multiple aircraft needing to adjust their flight paths or hold, frequency congestion increases. This means that the air traffic control system experiences a higher workload, as more aircraft are communicating their needs and adjustments to ATC, prompting a need for careful coordination to manage the increased traffic safely.

Thus, the impact of turbulence on air traffic control is characterized by a decrease in operational efficiency due to the limitations placed on airspace usage and the expanded communication requirements to manage this congested air traffic.