May has been a big month for turbulence.

This month alone, eight passengers were sent to the hospital following an extremely bumpy San Juan-Orlando JetBlue flight; then a few days later, 31 passengers were hurt and 10 hospitalized after turbulence rocked an Abu Dhabi-Jakarta Etihad Airways jet.

For jumpy air travelers, this is disheartening news. But there are ways to keep calm even when the air outside isn’t.

Here, Dr. Robert Sharman, project scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., and Peter Murray, creator of TurbulenceForecast.com, explain how to reduce — or even avoid altogether — the chances of being bumped around in-flight.

Don’t sit toward the rear of the aircraft. Instead, opt for seats over the wings, which help a plane fly smoothly. “Turbulence near the back of the airplane is exaggerated since it is furthest from the airplane’s center of gravity,” Sharman explains.

Fly during the morning, when the chance of turbulence is least. “The sun has not had a time to whip up the weather yet, and storms are calmer and less developed,” says Murray. “There’s less heat, which means less heat-related bumps.”

Avoid flight paths over the Rockies. “Statistically, higher frequencies of turbulence occur over the Rocky Mountains, due to convective clouds in the spring and summer, and mountain waves in the winter,” says Sharman.

Fly during early to mid-spring and early to mid-fall for less turbulent flights. “You avoid most of the weather-related turbulence associated with strong summer storms by avoiding the middle of summer, and you avoid the strong jet stream over the US by avoiding winter flying,” says Murray.

Put your mind at ease, and take a cue from the flight attendants. “During turbulence, notice how the flight attendants are relaxed and just doing their job, like it’s no big deal,” Murray says. “If they aren’t worried, then you shouldn’t be worried.”

Heed this frequent flyer foot tip. “Some people report that slightly raising your feet off the floor helps turbulence feel less intense,” says Murray.

Pay attention to your cup of coffee. “To see how mild turbulence really is, try watching liquid in your coffee cup during bumps,” advises Murray. “You’ll find that it just gently swishes around, if anything. It just feels worse than it actually is.”

Ask questions: More knowledge means less fear. “Once you are on board, make it a point to ask to talk about the flight to the captain, since there’s a good chance they have already flown that route that day and know what to expect,” says Murray. “They have likely also been briefed by the airline’s meteorology department.”

Obey the safety video: Stay strapped in. “The current state of turbulence forecasting is still immature, and unexpected encounters can happen,” says Sharman. “So it’s best to always keep that seat belt buckled.”