If your last flight into Denver felt more like a roller coaster than a smooth descent,you’re not alone. According to a new ranking by aviation site Turbli.com,Denver International Airport (DEN) tops the list of most turbulent major airports in the United States – and pilots say the ranking is well deserved.
Coming in just behind Denver are Bozeman (BZN),Albuquerque (ABQ),Salt Lake City (SLC),and Jackson Hole (JAC),all located in or near mountainous terrain known to stir up unpredictable,and at times downright bumpy,flying conditions.
“Denver hosts a whole set of challenges,” said Ryan Tseko,an experienced pilot who’s flown everything from Cessnas to CRJ-700 jets. ”There's a lot of wind,a lot of weather,snow and rain and everything else.”
Why Denver Is So Rough
Senior meteorologist Jonathan Belles notes that the city is located in what’s known by experts as the Denver Convergence Vorticity Zone,an area where air comes together and spins,and sometimes produces tornadoes and landspouts. Add to that the city's sudden changes in elevation - flat terrain to the east and rising Rockies to the west - and you’ve got a perfect recipe for turbulent skies.
“When you're flying over those mountains,” explains Tseko from a pilot’s perspective,“All of that wind,all of that weather is riding up those ridges,and it actually is forcing that air up. And so when you're flying over the top of those mountains,that's where you're gonna get more turbulence compared to other flat areas.”
And that’s not all.
“Denver obviously is known as the ‘Mile High City,’ so it adds another component to it too,because your atmospheric pressure is a lot higher than if you're landing at sea level,” he points out.
Tales From The Cockpit
Tseko,who got his start flying at 17 and regularly flew 1,000 hours each year,calls turbulence the ultimate test for pilots.
“There's a lot of things you're managing already. You're managing the crew members,you're managing the flight attendants,you're managing the passengers,you're managing air traffic control,” he said. “In wind,it just adds that one more component where it's a higher stress level.”
He compares landing in turbulence to “riding a mechanical bull,” where pilots are fighting to keep the aircraft steady,but wants passengers to know that a bumpy landing doesn’t mean the pilot messed up. In fact,it often means they nailed it.
“If it's a really windy day,what happens is you're crabbing,you're coming in to land,you're pushing on the rudder,you're getting that airplane straight so it's down the center line,” he explains. “But then actually,if the wind's coming out of the left,you actually want to tilt the airplane a little bit to the left and so your wing is into the wind. So if the pilot lands on the wheel that the wind is coming from,that means the pilot actually did a great job.”
What Turbulence Really Feels Like
According to Tseko,turbulence is categorized into light,moderate,and severe:“Light is pretty normal,you know,it's a few bumps,a few bounces.”
“When it gets to moderate,it's constant,you know,you're hitting multiple bumps,it's moving the airplane around more and more and more. People start to feel uncomfortable.”
“Severe is very rare. I've never encountered severe,and I hope most people have never encountered severe,” Tseko adds,“It's actually a very dangerous situation and the airplane has to be inspected when you land.”
America’s Most Turbulent Airports:
Turbli used forecasting data from NOAA and the UK Met Office to compile their list,taking into account the highest measurements of turbulence during a plane’s approach and descent (as opposed to during takeoff or landing,which can be affected by other factors).
- Denver International Airport (DEN) – Mile-high elevation,mountainous terrain,and fast-changing weather make this the bumpiest ride.
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) – Nestled in Montana’s mountain country,Bozeman often sees gusty winds and dramatic air currents.
- Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) – Hot air and surrounding desert terrain lead to strong updrafts and rough descents.
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) – Mountain winds and lake-effect weather create turbulence even on sunny days.
- Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) – Located inside Grand Teton National Park,this scenic landing can be as rough as it is beautiful.
So if you’re flying into any of these destinations soon,brace yourself and trust your pilot. As Tseko puts it:“Some of my best landings are in windy conditions because you're just Johnny-on-the-spot. You have to be on your game,” adding,“As a pilot,you just have to deal with it and manage it in the way that you were trained to do it.”
Weathernow24.com lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives,shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities.
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