Clear-Air Turbulence

Tom Barnard

n his weekly “Morning Musing” this week, my good friend and United Airlines pilot-emeritus (my description, not his) Captain Renda Brumbeloe used a term that caught my attention. He was in the process of outlining some bad things that can happen in flight: (1) An engine fails in flight; (2) the landing gear will not go up or come down; (3) the cabin pressurization or electrical system fails, and (4) Clear-Air-Turbulence (CAT).

I immediately went to Google for help. And I got it. Then I wrote to Renda and asked him to explain to me what CAT is and how pilots deal with it. He explained that CAT occurs when converging air masses collide and try to occupy the same space at the same altitude. This usually happens between 23,000 and 39,000 feet, according to Britannica.com. Of course, those altitude parameters happen to be where most commercial airplanes fly. The most likely places where CAT occurs are near jet streams or near mountain ranges. Clear-air turbulence is nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye, and conventional radar is ineffective in locating it. However, the most sophisticated Doppler radar systems can measure turbulence by using special optical techniques. But whenever it occurs, CAT can be dangerous, and it can be deadly to passengers and crew not buckled-in properly in their seats. Fortunately, pilots help each other out. Pilot reports (“Pireps”) of moderate turbulence at certain altitudes alert pilots of possible danger ahead, and a simple change in altitude will often avoid CAT.

I was a passenger in a small, regional prop-jet plane about 15 years ago when our plane suddenly dropped about fifty feet—getting everyone’s attention in a hurry. Fortunately, no one was hurt. Everyone was strapped into their seats. And the pilot knew what she was doing. We all thanked her personally when our plane landed. I have never flown on one of those small 20-plus passenger, turbo-prop planes since.

I couldn’t help but make spiritual application about CAT. The Christian faces sudden drops in spiritual altitude—often without warning—from time to time. Here we are, flying along without anything unusual going on, sailing through clear skies and no trouble on the horizon, when WHAM! Unexpected turbulence hits. Our confidence takes a tumble; our prayers seem ineffective; anxiety rises; sudden fears abound. What are we to do? Here are five suggestions that work for me:

·        Trust the Pilot. He is in control. He wrote the Book on turbulence. He knows the way through.

·        Follow instructions. The Bible charts a course for us. The Holy Spirit guides. We need to follow.

·        Buckle up. Assurance comes by holding firm, not by running the aisles.

·        Have faith. Fear leads to vacillation. Faith leads to victory. Fear leads to death. Faith leads to life.

·        Stay calm. Our destination is sure. The “bottom line” to Revelation is simple: God wins. So do we.

One of the most incredibly great women I have ever met in my walk with God went by her first name—Glaphre. She had a last name, and she loved her family name—Gilliland—but she preferred to be known as Glaphre. She lived more than half of her life in constant pain. She prayed for physical healing, but it never came. But she breathed hope for thousands of people, young and old, rich and poor. Here are some of her words that speak to me when I face the clear-air turbulence of my life:

“When you have a problem you can’t seem to pray away…

When the circumstances are so dark, you can’t see what to do…

When the formulas aren’t working…

Forget the formulas.

Release to God the judgment of the formula givers and look to God.

He will make the difference.”