What is the primary flight control limitation during turbulent conditions?

Reducing speed to maneuvering speed (Va) during turbulent conditions is a critical strategy for maintaining control of the aircraft. Maneuvering speed is the maximum speed at which the aircraft can be safely controlled in turbulent air without risking structural damage. At this speed, the aircraft is less likely to exceed its critical load factors, which can happen during sudden, strong gusts or turbulence.

When flying at or below this speed, the aircraft can better absorb the bumps and jolts of turbulent air, allowing the pilot to maintain better control. This approach minimizes the risk of over-stressing the airframe and enhances the overall safety of the flight.

In contrast, other options like increasing speed to approach speed may lead to more control challenges in turbulent conditions. Maintaining current speed regardless of turbulence could ignore critical changes in flight dynamics, while ignoring turbulence warnings could lead to dangerous situations. Therefore, reducing speed to maneuvering speed is the best practice when flying in turbulence.