Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Fear of flight turbulence

#1
Magical Realist Offline
Probably like many people I have an abject fear of turbulence while flying. It's almost so bad it keeps me from flying at all. Here's a realistic view that should be considered:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/turbulence...mCNHyclSqM

"There is no doubt that flying can be a stressful experience for many passengers, from long security lines and an often-chaotic boarding process to the time waiting on the tarmac to take off.

It should be smooth sailing once airborne, but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes, right when passengers are settling in to read a book or watch a movie, they get startled by turbulence. The bumps, drops and shaking can put even the most seasoned of travelers on the edge of their seats.

On a recent overnight American Airlines flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Miami International Airport (MIA), a sense of panic had its hold on me for the first three hours. I knew before taking off that there were storms over much of the southern United States that were spawning tornadoes in Texas, so when the flight quickly started getting bumpy, I immediately concluded it was related to the weather. (I also noticed the pilot was flying low enough that I could see the ground for the first few hours of the flight.)

The uneasy journey got me thinking more about turbulence and how passengers can figure out when it’s normal — and when it’s potentially something to be concerned about. So, I reached out to a few aviation experts to get the lowdown. Here’s what they said you need to know about turbulence during flights.

What is turbulence?
Justin Franco, a former American Airlines spokesperson and a self-proclaimed “weather nerd,” says there are two types of turbulence: clear-air turbulence and convective turbulence.

“Clear-air turbulence is caused by the sudden formation of cumulus clouds, jet streams and other weather phenomena,” Franco told TPG. “Convective turbulence is caused by stormy conditions on the ground or in the atmosphere.”

“Convective turbulence can be far more severe than clear-air turbulence,” Franco explained. “In fact, most incidents of severe air turbulence happen during storms or other severe weather events. The wind flow is not smooth like an airplane wing, so it rises and falls in waves. This causes the air pressure to rise and fall as well, causing sudden jolts of movement in the plane.”

Should you worry about turbulence?

I’ll admit, every flight I’m on where there’s a jolt, my blood pressure immediately rises. But Captain Laura Einsetler, an aviation blogger and commercial airline pilot with 30-plus years of flying experience, reassured me the ups and downs that I feel in flight are nothing out of the ordinary.

“Turbulence is not something to be concerned about because the aircraft are built to withstand severe turbulence for long periods of time,” Einsetler said. “This is why the wings flex so that they are dynamic structures. This is similar to earthquake-resistant buildings that sway to withstand the forces.”

Patrick Smith, a pilot and writer of the Ask the Pilot blog, agreed. “For all intents and purposes, a plane cannot be flipped upside down, thrown into a tailspin or otherwise flung from the sky by even the mightiest gust or air pocket. Conditions might be annoying and uncomfortable, but the plane is not going to crash. Turbulence is an aggravating nuisance for everybody, including the crew, but it’s also, for lack of a better term, normal.”

How do pilots handle turbulence?
Although turbulence may be common, pilots still try to minimize it when possible.

“We coordinate with our airline weather pros and dispatch in addition to using software and doppler radar that shows us where the areas of turbulence are,” Einsetler said. “We route either around or plan for lower or higher altitudes that are smoother.”

To ease passengers’ nerves and ensure safety, pilots will typically make an announcement about any expected bumps during the flight.

“[Ideally] pilots should give PA announcements every 15 to 20 minutes in anticipation of a turbulent area and also during,” Einsetler said. “It is very important that when the seat belt announcement has been made, and the seat belt lights are on, that everyone stays in their seats with seat belts on and things secured.“

But even if they don’t make announcements about the turbulence, which was the case during my recent overnight flight, there’s usually little cause for concern.

“When it comes to communicating with passengers about turbulence, I personally [would] much rather have the captain of a flight be concentrating on the potential issue at hand,” Franco said. “What I can tell you is that if you ever see a flight attendant dash down the aisle and return the beverage cart faster than you thought was ever possible, it typically means stay seated.”

How can you avoid turbulence when you fly?
If you’re still worried about turbulence, Einsetler said there are a few things passengers can do to minimize the chance of encountering it during flights:

Always take the earliest morning flights possible since the air is smoothest earlier in the day.
Fly the largest jet possible so you’ll feel fewer bumps while in the air.
When possible, plan your trips for fall or spring when the weather conditions are consistently better.
If you’re traveling in winter, try to book flights with more southerly routings and connections to avoid ice and snowstorms. For summer travels, reserve flights with more northerly routings to decrease the likelihood of encountering afternoon thunderstorms.
Keep an eye on the Weather Channel or the MyRadar app a day or two before your flight so you can anticipate any weather issues at your departure city or destination, at your connections or along your route.

Bottom line
It’s not unusual to experience turbulence when you fly. While it can be unsettling in the moment, there’s no need to panic over those bumps in the sky.

Take a deep breath and remember that what you are feeling is perfectly normal. Odds are the temporary discomfort will be over before you know it."
Reply
#2
C C Offline
(Apr 25, 2022 08:14 PM)Magical Realist Wrote: Probably like many people I have an abject fear of turbulence while flying. It's almost so bad it keeps me from flying at all. Here's a realistic view that should be considered:

https://thepointsguy.com/news/turbulence...you-worry/

[...] How can you avoid turbulence when you fly?
If you’re still worried about turbulence, Einsetler said there are a few things passengers can do to minimize the chance of encountering it during flights:

Always take the earliest morning flights possible since the air is smoothest earlier in the day.
Fly the largest jet possible so you’ll feel fewer bumps while in the air.
When possible, plan your trips for fall or spring when the weather conditions are consistently better.
If you’re traveling in winter, try to book flights with more southerly routings and connections to avoid ice and snowstorms. For summer travels, reserve flights with more northerly routings to decrease the likelihood of encountering afternoon thunderstorms.
Keep an eye on the Weather Channel or the MyRadar app a day or two before your flight so you can anticipate any weather issues at your departure city or destination, at your connections or along your route. [...]


Yep, circumstances are bound to be ripe for those tactical preferences and pre-emptive schedulings to be fulfillable most of the time.
Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Hodophobia, or fear of traveling Magical Realist 0 75 Jan 24, 2023 11:04 PM
Last Post: Magical Realist
  Fear of getting lost while driving Magical Realist 2 144 Jul 15, 2022 01:54 AM
Last Post: RainbowUnicorn
  A wild mink in Utah has Covid-19. Veterinarians fear this is just the beginning. C C 0 179 Dec 17, 2020 02:33 AM
Last Post: C C
  Fear of litigation is a key factor in decision to perform C-sections C C 1 359 Jul 30, 2018 04:54 PM
Last Post: Syne



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)