The appropriate response to turbulence during descent is to?

When encountering turbulence during descent, reducing speed is the appropriate response because it helps to minimize the stress on the aircraft and enhances control. Slower speeds during turbulent conditions can lead to a safer flight experience by allowing the pilot to react more effectively to unexpected movements and ensuring that the aircraft remains within its operational limits.

In turbulent air, a higher speed can exacerbate the impact of the turbulence, making it harder to control the aircraft and potentially leading to situations that could compromise safety. By decreasing speed, pilots can improve the aircraft’s stability and better manage the effects of turbulence, thus ensuring a more smooth and controlled descent.

Maintaining altitude or increasing altitude may not be applicable in this situation as they do not directly address the immediate concern of turbulence during descent. Similarly, performing a controlled descent is important for overall safety but is not specifically the most effective response to turbulence as adjusting speed is a more direct and beneficial action in this context.