18. We’re In For a Bumpy Ride

Mountain waves? Yikes. A mountain wave is what happens when winds hit a mountain and form into an updraft. Basically, the wind is forced to move up to get past the mountain before it dips back down, and can make for a pretty bumpy ride when a plane is passing overhead and gets caught in it.

It’s also dangerous if you’re not careful, as it can push a plane off course and potentially cause a buildup of ice, among other things. The bottom line is it’s definitely not a nice wake-up call on an early morning flight and brings into question the competence of the pilot.