Boeing to trial turbulence-detecting lasers

But turbulence could be a thing of the past thanks to new technology that promises to predict the type that lurks unseen - and steer planes around it. That's according to Boeing, which will be trialing remote-sensing technology that can detect clear-air turbulence early next year. The concept, which they hope could be rolled-out across all commercial carriers, comes from a seven-tear collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and has huge potential for travellers. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the number of turbulence-related injuries doubled in 2016, from 21 to 44. But this could be slashed by lidar (light detection and ranging technology), which will work by emitting pulses of laser light from the plane's nose, scattering small dust and other particulates.