Turbulence - how serious is it?
Discussion
I flew back from Malaga yesterday, I’ve been travelling that route for 30 years regularly.
We hit a particular nasty serious of the ‘bumps’ as the captain described it, I’ve never in all my travels known anything like it. I don’t mind saying I was extremely uncomfortable to say the least.
I noticed how the flight crew remained absolutely professional and calm, I guess that’s all part of the job. But another thing that struck me was prior to landing, we were all asked to review our safety instructions. I can’t ever recall that happening for landing before?
Also is it a more common occurrence? Or have I just been lucky not experiencing it like that before?
We hit a particular nasty serious of the ‘bumps’ as the captain described it, I’ve never in all my travels known anything like it. I don’t mind saying I was extremely uncomfortable to say the least.
I noticed how the flight crew remained absolutely professional and calm, I guess that’s all part of the job. But another thing that struck me was prior to landing, we were all asked to review our safety instructions. I can’t ever recall that happening for landing before?
Also is it a more common occurrence? Or have I just been lucky not experiencing it like that before?
The most likely problem is somebody hurting themselves in the cabin. It has to be extremely bad before it threatens the aircraft. We work hard to avoid the severe stuff and minimise the light to moderate stuff.
I've experienced severe 3 times in 23yrs. Most passengers are very unlikely to ever experience the bad stuff happily.
I've experienced severe 3 times in 23yrs. Most passengers are very unlikely to ever experience the bad stuff happily.
I had some the other night coming back across the Atlantic where the speed was increasing and decreasing up at 41,0000, the speed brake was deployed to slow us down but the aircraft still had an overspeed event and we had to descend down to 37,000 to find some smoother flying conditions.
Airlines are reporting more turbulence events per x flights so it seems to be increasing.
Worst I had was when the weather radar failed and we flew into a thunderstorm near Florida. The aircraft was climbing and descending in the up and down droughts and we couldn’t communicate in the flight deck despite shouting due to the noise of hail hitting the aircraft.
After landing all the paint was missing from the nose but there was no damage beyond that.
The risk is really to passengers/crew either becoming airborne during turbulence or being hit by objects in the cabin.
We definitely take it seriously as everyone’s safety is our main concern. If you’re in turbulence and strapped in though it’s not a big worry, although it’s unpleasant. It’s not like the aircraft is going to fall apart or whatever.
I did ask my first officer to make a reassuring passenger announcement when we were in turbulence once, I thought he was going on for a bit so I had a listen in and heard him explaining how the wings are tested to destruction and what angle they fail at etc. which I didn’t think would be helpful tbh so suggested it was too much information perhaps.
Airlines are reporting more turbulence events per x flights so it seems to be increasing.
Worst I had was when the weather radar failed and we flew into a thunderstorm near Florida. The aircraft was climbing and descending in the up and down droughts and we couldn’t communicate in the flight deck despite shouting due to the noise of hail hitting the aircraft.
After landing all the paint was missing from the nose but there was no damage beyond that.
The risk is really to passengers/crew either becoming airborne during turbulence or being hit by objects in the cabin.
We definitely take it seriously as everyone’s safety is our main concern. If you’re in turbulence and strapped in though it’s not a big worry, although it’s unpleasant. It’s not like the aircraft is going to fall apart or whatever.
I did ask my first officer to make a reassuring passenger announcement when we were in turbulence once, I thought he was going on for a bit so I had a listen in and heard him explaining how the wings are tested to destruction and what angle they fail at etc. which I didn’t think would be helpful tbh so suggested it was too much information perhaps.
Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 8th January 13:37
Agree with the belt, I never ever take my belt off from take off to landing. I make sure I get my movements out of the way before!
I must say the captain was very good and kept us all informed regularly. It was from the Bay of Biscay onwards. The crew kept varying the altitude to get around it. They were communicating with a flight ahead who’d just flown through it.
I remember one bad flight coming out of Malaga (at night) during some very bad weather I was a young lad at the time and I thought it all was exciting. Lighting the lot.
People were really terrified, whilst I thought it fun. I’m afraid as I’ve got older, my nerves are not what they once were!
I must say the captain was very good and kept us all informed regularly. It was from the Bay of Biscay onwards. The crew kept varying the altitude to get around it. They were communicating with a flight ahead who’d just flown through it.
I remember one bad flight coming out of Malaga (at night) during some very bad weather I was a young lad at the time and I thought it all was exciting. Lighting the lot.
People were really terrified, whilst I thought it fun. I’m afraid as I’ve got older, my nerves are not what they once were!
El stovey said:
I had some the other night coming back across the Atlantic where the speed was increasing and decreasing up at 41,0000, the speed brake was deployed to slow us down but the aircraft still had an overspeed event and we had to descend down to 37,000 to find some smoother flying conditions.
Airlines are reporting more turbulence events per x flights so it seems to be increasing.
Worst I had was when the weather radar failed and we flew into a thunderstorm near Florida. The aircraft was climbing and descending in the up and down droughts and we couldn’t communicate in the flight deck despite shouting due to the noise of hail hitting the aircraft.
After landing all the paint was missing from the nose but there was no damage beyond that.
The risk is really to passengers/crew either becoming airborne during turbulence or being hit by objects in the cabin.
We definitely take it seriously as everyone’s safety is our main concern. If you’re in turbulence and strapped in though it’s not a big worry, although it’s unpleasant. It’s not like the aircraft is going to fall apart or whatever.
I did ask my first officer to make a reassuring passenger announcement when we were in turbulence once, I thought he was going on for a bit so I had a listen in and heard him explaining how the wings are tested to destruction and what angle they fail at etc. which I didn’t think would be helpful tbh so suggested it was too much information perhaps.
Class! I was hoping you’d spot this and be able to provide informed information.Airlines are reporting more turbulence events per x flights so it seems to be increasing.
Worst I had was when the weather radar failed and we flew into a thunderstorm near Florida. The aircraft was climbing and descending in the up and down droughts and we couldn’t communicate in the flight deck despite shouting due to the noise of hail hitting the aircraft.
After landing all the paint was missing from the nose but there was no damage beyond that.
The risk is really to passengers/crew either becoming airborne during turbulence or being hit by objects in the cabin.
We definitely take it seriously as everyone’s safety is our main concern. If you’re in turbulence and strapped in though it’s not a big worry, although it’s unpleasant. It’s not like the aircraft is going to fall apart or whatever.
I did ask my first officer to make a reassuring passenger announcement when we were in turbulence once, I thought he was going on for a bit so I had a listen in and heard him explaining how the wings are tested to destruction and what angle they fail at etc. which I didn’t think would be helpful tbh so suggested it was too much information perhaps.
Edited by El stovey on Saturday 8th January 13:37
Thank You El Stovey
Most airline crews will have paperwork and forecasts showing turbulence along their route and also when you experience turbulence you tell air traffic or other aircraft so they can pass it on to anyone else that might be affected so generally we have a good idea of what’s going on and which altitudes are more or less bumpy.
You have a weather radar and can see ahead so you can usually avoid the worst bits.
It’s not something that I worry about as a passenger myself and obviously if I’m operating the aircraft then it’s something I’d take seriously but again it’s not on my list of top things that can go wrong in a flight by a long way.
You have a weather radar and can see ahead so you can usually avoid the worst bits.
It’s not something that I worry about as a passenger myself and obviously if I’m operating the aircraft then it’s something I’d take seriously but again it’s not on my list of top things that can go wrong in a flight by a long way.
It bothers me and I get sweaty palms, although I know it's a comfort, rather than a safety issue. I had a flight once from Miami to Jacksonville on a little prop plane that was almost comically rough. I was seriously uneasy but the regulars didn't seem phased at all.
Here's a good piece of writing on the subject:
https://askthepilot.com/questionanswers/turbulence...
Here's a good piece of writing on the subject:
https://askthepilot.com/questionanswers/turbulence...
Heading towards Florida one year the pilot warned us that we had to fly through a storm. There was no way of avoiding it.
I've no idea how the wings stayed on the plane and we didn't crash. The way the plane was tossed, turned and the sudden drops were terrifying. There was lots of crying, panic and fear on that plane.
I've never experienced anything like it before or since.
I've no idea how the wings stayed on the plane and we didn't crash. The way the plane was tossed, turned and the sudden drops were terrifying. There was lots of crying, panic and fear on that plane.
I've never experienced anything like it before or since.
This is a good explanation https://www.weather.gov/source/zhu/ZHU_Training_Pa...
I’ve never, touch wood, experienced ‘severe’ turbulence in the cruise in 20+ years of flying.
I have experienced ‘severe’ turbulence on takeoff and approach but that is more to do with the strength of the wind, direction and airport.
I’ve never, touch wood, experienced ‘severe’ turbulence in the cruise in 20+ years of flying.
I have experienced ‘severe’ turbulence on takeoff and approach but that is more to do with the strength of the wind, direction and airport.
I remember as a child in the early nineties hitting severe turbulence coming into Aberdeen. People crying and screaming. The flight was recorded by a film crew and was then on the news that evening. Back then I wasn’t phased although now even minor turbulence makes me nervous. Reading the comments on this thread really helps.
1. Keep strap loosely fastened.
2. Reassure yourself by watching this Airbus wing flex video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--LTYRTKV_A
I like to look out of the window during take-off and you can clearly see the wing starts flying long before the wheels leave the ground. The tips rise many feet as lift builds with speed.
2. Reassure yourself by watching this Airbus wing flex video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--LTYRTKV_A
I like to look out of the window during take-off and you can clearly see the wing starts flying long before the wheels leave the ground. The tips rise many feet as lift builds with speed.
Panamax said:
This. At which point I take up the slack in my seat belt and finish the red wine before it's thrown all over my trousers!
Hit some turbulence on a flight coming into HKG, all was good until the smell of vomitus filled the cabin, which, if you're in Econ , doesn't take long to spread.
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