I've flown over 200,000 miles in the last five years, and I still get nervous every time a pilot announces we're flying through turbulence. But here's what I noticed: newer planes handle rough air noticeably better than older ones, and I wonder if airlines should be forced to upgrade their fleets faster for safety reasons. The FAA requires strict maintenance, yet the average commercial aircraft is over 11 years old, and some budget carriers fly even older models. Should passenger safety outweigh the massive cost of early retirement for these planes, or is the current balancing act actually adequate?