Rough rides to smooth skies

Turbulence is one of the most common in-flight annoyances, yet one of the hardest to accurately predict. Traditional tools like pilot reports (pireps) and forecast models are powerful, but they don't always tell the full story. For years, pilots have worked around this uncertainty, making the best decisions they can with limited, and often delayed, information. With advances in avionics, automated turbulence reporting brings a smarter way to navigate around rough air and find smoother skies.

The trouble with turbulence reports

The unpredictable bumps and shakes of turbulence have long been one of the toughest parts of flight to plan for. While pireps are essential for aviation safety and efficiency, they’re often filed only when it’s safe to do so—typically after the turbulence has passed or upon landing. This delay means pilots are frequently working with outdated information. You may know where turbulence was, but not always where it is.

Self-reported pireps also tend to highlight rough conditions and rarely mention when the ride was smoother than expected. Turbulence is subjective. What one pilot calls “moderate” might feel “severe” to another. The result? Incomplete, delayed, and inconsistent information that can make chasing smooth air feel like guesswork.

More confidence in the cockpit—Meet Reported Turbulence

New technology is giving pilots access to turbulence reports gathered just minutes ahead of their position, adding a crucial layer of confidence to in-flight decision making.

ForeFlight’s Reported Turbulence feature goes beyond forecasts and manual reports by using ride-quality data captured by Sentry and Sentry Plus ADS-B receivers. The sensors on the devices analyze conditions and classify the intensity, from smooth to extreme. These observations are automatically published to ForeFlight’s Reported Turbulence map layer.

There’s no need to manually relay Reported Turbulence reports to ForeFlight. Data from Sentry is shared automatically as you fly or upon landing and reconnecting to the internet—reflecting actual, measured conditions, rather than a forecast of potential ones.

Unlike pireps, Reported Turbulence is automated, frequent, and objective, reducing guesswork. Smooth air is conservatively defined through an algorithm designed to reflect ride quality that nearly any aircraft and crew would consider stable, giving pilots trust in what they see on screen.

With up-to-date turbulence information, pilots can make smarter altitude decisions and fly with more confidence—and fewer surprises.

How to use

With a ForeFlight Pro Plus or Performance Plus subscription, pilots who register their Sentry device (or purchase the Reported Turbulence subscription add-on) can view the Reported Turbulence map layer in ForeFlight, filtering reports by altitude and age.

Another Performance Plus benefit: access to Reported Turbulence in Profile View. This shows expected ride quality along your planned route and altitude, helping you anticipate and avoid rough patches.

Smooth skies are in sight

Flying may never be perfectly smooth, but observed turbulence tools get us closer to a more comfortable ride. With better data come better decisions, and a safer, more enjoyable flight for everyone on board.

Built on innovation and the collective contributions of the aviation community, Reported Turbulence is a leap in how we understand ride quality, plan flights, and prioritize safety and comfort.