flight turbulence forecast

SU208 turbulence forecast

Aeroflot Russian Airlines · Moscow (SVO) to Shanghai (PVG)

Next departure at its usual time · Tue 6 Oct, 20:00 Moscow time

This date's schedule isn't confirmed yet. This is the air SU208 flies through if it leaves at its usual time.

Bumpiest stretchModerate

Mostly smooth. About 30 minutes of moderate bumps after takeoff. Belt sign on, built for far more.

SVO20:00Moscow
8h 50m
PVG09:50Shanghai
Model run 4 Oct, 12:00 UTC · checked just now
SVOPVG
SmoothLightModerateSevere The planned route of SU208, coloured stretch by stretch by its forecast.
Bumpiest stretch
Moderate
Flight time
8h 50m
Distance
6,851 km
Cruise altitude
37,000 ft
Aircraft
BOEING 777-300ER

Bumpiness along the flight

Takeoff on the left, landing on the right. The higher the line, the bumpier the air the forecast expects at that moment.

SmoothLightModerateSevere 1h2h3h4h5h6h7h8h Take off Landing

Where, and why

The flight split into stretches: how bumpy each is forecast to be, and what causes it.

SVO · Take off0m – 39mLight

Jet-stream wind shear

Where fast air slides over slower air, usually at the edge of the jet stream, the boundary ripples like a flag. It is the most common kind of turbulence and it never comes as a surprise: it is on the crew's charts, and they slow to a set turbulence speed and let the aircraft ride it out.

The first minutes are flown through the lowest, liveliest air. Sun-warmed ground sends up thermals and wind bends around hills, so a bump or two while climbing is normal. It fades as the aircraft climbs into the smoother air above.

Cruise39m – 1h 26mModerate

Jet-stream wind shear

Where fast air slides over slower air, usually at the edge of the jet stream, the boundary ripples like a flag. It is the most common kind of turbulence and it never comes as a surprise: it is on the crew's charts, and they slow to a set turbulence speed and let the aircraft ride it out.

At cruise the air is thin and cold, and most of it is calm. The bumps up here come from the jet stream, a river of fast wind whose edges stir the air, or from waves set off by mountains far below. This forecast maps exactly where those edges sit.

Cruise1h 25m – 4h 48mSmooth

Nothing significant forecast here.

At cruise the air is thin and cold, and most of it is calm. The bumps up here come from the jet stream, a river of fast wind whose edges stir the air, or from waves set off by mountains far below. This forecast maps exactly where those edges sit.

Cruise4h 48m – 5h 35mLight

Jet-stream wind shear

Where fast air slides over slower air, usually at the edge of the jet stream, the boundary ripples like a flag. It is the most common kind of turbulence and it never comes as a surprise: it is on the crew's charts, and they slow to a set turbulence speed and let the aircraft ride it out.

At cruise the air is thin and cold, and most of it is calm. The bumps up here come from the jet stream, a river of fast wind whose edges stir the air, or from waves set off by mountains far below. This forecast maps exactly where those edges sit.

Cruise5h 35m – 8h 50mSmooth

Nothing significant forecast here.

At cruise the air is thin and cold, and most of it is calm. The bumps up here come from the jet stream, a river of fast wind whose edges stir the air, or from waves set off by mountains far below. This forecast maps exactly where those edges sit.

in the app

This forecast changes. FlyBud tells you when.

A new weather model run lands every few hours. Add SU208 in FlyBud and you get the full turbulence map along your route, a push when the forecast for your flight changes, live tracking and your flight on the lock screen.

The aircraft

What SU208 is flown with, and how it handles bumpy air.

BOEING 777-300ER

Bigger and heavier aircraft are moved less by the same patch of air, but every airliner is built for far more than turbulence produces.

The airline

Aeroflot Russian Airlines

Aeroflot Russian Airlines operates SU208.

on your lock screen

SU208 without unlocking your phone

Gate, delay, time to landing and the next bumpy stretch, on the lock screen from boarding to the baggage belt.

The route

Moscow (SVO) → Shanghai (PVG)

Distance
6,851 km
Flight time
8h 50m
Usual departure
20:00 local
Usual arrival
09:50 local

Forecast any other route →

What each level feels like

Smooth
Calm air. Nothing to notice beyond the hum of the engines.
Light
Gentle ripples and the odd dip. Drinks stay put, and walking to the toilet is fine.
Moderate
Distinct bumps. A drink might slosh and the belt sign comes on. Uncomfortable, and the aircraft is in full control throughout.
Severe
Strong jolts, and loose items can move. Rare, and the reason the belt sign exists: crews slow down and change altitude to get out of it.

How this forecast is made

The planned route is sampled from gate to gate at the altitude the aircraft flies, through a global weather model, and corrected with turbulence reports radioed in by pilots in the last few hours. Each new model run replaces the forecast.

Planned route · timing and conditions may change.

the live map

Watch the air along the route move

The app draws the route of SU208 over the moving forecast: bumpy air, storms and the winds at cruise height. Scrub through the flight hour by hour.

Why the bumps are only bumps

Built for it.

Airliners are tested to loads far beyond anything turbulence produces; the wing flexing you can see is by design.

Seen in advance.

Your crew flies with forecasts like this one, live reports from other pilots and their own weather radar, and they change altitude to stay out of the bumpy air.

The belt is the whole story.

Turbulence injuries almost always involve someone standing or unbuckled. Seated with the belt on, it is a bumpy road and nothing more.

Is turbulence dangerous? The long answer →

Questions about SU208

Will SU208 be bumpy?

For the flight on Tue 6 Oct: Mostly smooth. About 30 minutes of moderate bumps after takeoff. Belt sign on, built for far more. The forecast is replaced with every new weather model run, so check back closer to departure.

How long is SU208?

About 8h 50m gate to gate from Moscow to Shanghai, a distance of about 6,851 km.

What time does SU208 leave?

SU208 usually departs Moscow at 20:00 local time and arrives in Shanghai at 09:50 local time. Times change; the app tracks the live schedule.

Is turbulence dangerous on SU208?

Turbulence is uncomfortable, not dangerous to the aircraft. Airliners are certified for loads far beyond anything turbulence produces, and crews plan around the bumpy patches with the same kind of forecast as this one. Injuries are almost always to people who were standing or unbuckled, so keep your seatbelt fastened whenever you're seated.

How accurate is this turbulence forecast?

It is a forecast, so it is best within a day or so of departure and improves with every model run. The bumpy patches it finds are usually in the right place, but their timing can shift by a few minutes and the crew may change altitude to avoid them, so the ride you get is often smoother than the forecast.

flybud

Fly SU208 knowing what's ahead

The turbulence forecast for your exact flight, live tracking, delay alerts and arrival weather. Built for people who'd rather know.

SU208Moderate