How does a turbulence tracker work?
A turbulence tracker aggregates data from three sources: (1) PIREPs — pilot reports filed in real time by commercial and private pilots describing turbulence intensity, (2) SIGMETs — official meteorological warnings issued when severe turbulence is detected, and (3) EDR data — eddy dissipation rate measurements from aircraft sensors that quantify turbulence automatically. TurboTrack processes all three and shows you a single easy-to-read turbulence level for your flight.
Which flights can the tracker monitor?
TurboTrack covers 1,400+ international and domestic routes including all major transatlantic, transpacific, US domestic, European, Middle Eastern, and South American routes. Route data is updated daily. Live PIREP tracking is available for any ICAO route pair worldwide.
Can I track turbulence during my flight?
Yes — TurboTrack works in airplane mode and shows pre-downloaded route forecasts even without internet. For in-flight tracking with live data, you need Wi-Fi (available on most long-haul flights). The app shows a real-time turbulence profile for your specific flight path.
What's the difference between moderate and severe turbulence?
Light turbulence: slight bumpiness, no difficulty walking. Moderate turbulence: definite bumps, walking difficult, items may shift. Severe turbulence: large abrupt changes, aircraft temporarily out of control — stay belted. Extreme turbulence: violent, aircraft structurally stressed — extremely rare. TurboTrack scores are based on EDR values: 0–15 light, 16–35 moderate, 36–55 severe, 56+ extreme.