Warning of turbulence

During test flights aboard a research aircraft over the Rocky Mountains, a lidar sensor seeking clear-air turbulence detected moderate turbulence eight to ten seconds in advance of the plane as it flew 300 miles per hour several times into disturbed air. The lidar could eventually be part of a detection and warning system used on commercial planes to prevent injuries to passengers and crews. The experiment is a collaboration among the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Science Foundation (NSF), and Coherent Technologies Inc. (CTI) of Lafayette, Colorado, USA.