In-flight turbulence: Five tips to get on a plane without fear

Judging by the reactions of many airline passengers, one might assume so; The Turbulence is a major concern of avid travellers. Intuitively, this makes sense.

Everyone who gets on a plane feels uncomfortable in one way or another, and there’s no starker reminder of the inherent uncertainty of flying than flying at 37,000 feet. It’s easy to imagine an airplane as a helpless boat in a stormy sea. The same must be true of airplanes, as ships occasionally flood, capsize, or crash into rocks… both seem dangerous.

Besides, in all but rare circumstances, it doesn’t. For all intents and purposes, an airplane cannot roll, dive, or otherwise be thrown out of the sky by even the most powerful winds or airbags.

The conditions may be confusing and uncomfortable, but the plane will not crash. Turbulence is a nasty nuisance for everyone, including the crew, but, for lack of a better term, Normal. From a pilot’s perspective, this is generally considered a convenience issue, not a safety issue.

The truth is, although it may seem like the end of the world to many, turbulence usually poses no danger to the aircraft and its passengers. The aircraft is designed to handle very severe maneuvers. Here’s a list of tips to help you better deal with turbulence.

Although it doesn’t make much of a difference, the wings are the most comfortable place to sit, being closer to the plane’s lift and centers of gravity. The highest point is usually the rear end (back of the aircraft). In the rear rows, near the tail, tapping and rocking are more pronounced.

The best way to avoid feeling the turbulence is to avoid sitting in the last seats of the plane. Locations near the aircraft’s center of gravity and on the wings are least sensitive to these changes. The positions in the tail of the aircraft are the most noticeable. It should also be taken into account that the bigger the plane and the seat, the less turbulence we will notice.

At this time sudden movements begin, The crew will let the passengers know what kind of turbulence it is and they will continue to turn on the lights indicating that you need to fasten your seat belt.

As many travelers already know, flight crews in the US are more nervous about seatbelt identification than those in other countries. After take off, we will keep the signal on for a long time, even if the wind is steady, and turn it back on at the slightest vibration or bubble.

In some respects, this is another example of American overprotection, but there are legitimate liability concerns. The last thing a captain wants is to be kicked in the back by the FAA for not registering when someone breaks their ankle and sues. Unfortunately, it has a crying wolf aspect to it; People get so used to it that they completely ignore the sign, for no reason at all.

It is important to have accurate knowledge about turbulence to avoid unfounded fears and worries. These phenomena are classified into three basic categories. Mild agitation: Unprotected objects on board change slightly. Food services may be provided with some difficulty, but not without problems. Moderate turbulence: Unsecured objects are displaced from their place. Walking down the center hallway to the bathroom can be tricky. Major changes in altitude and flight attitude. Severe turbulence: Places strong pressure on seat belts and sudden movements can cause nausea. Unsecured items can fall very quickly and cause injury.

In my book Confessions from the cockpit, I explained that global warming is making this weather phenomenon more and more frequent. As for those injured by turbulence, about 50 to 100 passengers suffer minor injuries out of the more than 2,000 million passengers who fly each year. And, in those cases, the vast majority fall or are thrown, so they are not hugged.

Apart from choosing the seats in the wings, another option might be to choose them They meet at the window. That is, in many cases, You can see what’s going on outside And checking that it’s not a severe weather event will make travelers feel safer.

If you feel more secure in this position, remember that choosing the seat you are going to sit on is important. There may be another important point if you have Fear of flyingIn that case I recommend it Avoid emergency exits Because anxiety can hinder your discharge in difficult and serious situations.

Considering the turbulence and sudden movements of the aircraft that may result from them, Unprotected materials can become airborne. Also, when this condition occurs, people may suffer from dizziness, which is why it is mandatory to wear a seat belt when entering a turbulent area, so as to avoid blows, falls and dizziness.

Also, remember that this is important Keep personal items away so they don’t throw away If the movements of the aircraft are too premature.

* Patrick Smith is a commercial pilot who currently flies Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft. Smith also runs a blog AskThePilot.com and author of Confessions from the Cockpit.

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