Turbelence!!!

[Duggas]

I've come to the conclusion that the amount of turbulance is directly proportional to the amount and temperature of coffee in your cup. The full to the brim scalding hot cup always generates the most turbulance

We had bad turbulance when we got to Orlando last year, they kept us in a holding pattern just outside Orlando for over 2 hours, it was so frustrating, so near but so far! I knew it was bad turbulance when one of the stewards who was sat opposite me accidently swore (mildly, and he apologised straight away). We were certainly relieved to get down on the ground!

 

[HARRYC]

As far as I know they always fly via Newfoundland and then down the east coast.

there are several factors that determine the flight path ..but the main biggie is how many engines the plane has ...if its a two engine ..767 etc then the route they take is governed by being able to achieve landfall withing a certain amount of time if 1 engine failed ..its called i think etops..extendied twin engine operating procedures .....

big jumbos etc have 4 engines so they are not so constrianed.....

cheers

harry

 

[Claire L]

there are several factors that determine the flight path ..but the main biggie is how many engines the plane has ...if its a two engine ..767 etc then the route they take is governed by being able to achieve landfall withing a certain amount of time if 1 engine failed ..its called i think etops..extendied twin engine operating procedures .....

big jumbos etc have 4 engines so they are not so constrianed.....

cheers

harry

Yup it is ETOPS as in my post above.

Claire

 

[El Tel]

As far as I know they always fly via Newfoundland and then down the east coast.

That's correct. It's not just closer to land but it is shorter (known as great circle navigation). Most maps don't represent the curvature of the Earth well. If you get a globe and a bit of string you will see that the shortest line from the UK to Florida is close to Greenland, Newfoundland and down the Eastern seaboard of the US.
Sorry to be a smartass

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I Love turbulance it is just like being on a rollercoaster, makes the flight more interesting.

Don't forget that airlines also have to get a flight plan agreed by the various air traffic controls, which can decide on the height/speed and route used. Pilots can request changes, but the man in the tower has the power.

No mention about radio links if you want to be scared of flying.......

 

[Cochise]

There are different levels of ETOPS certification. The newer craft like the A330 300 have 180min certification after clearing the standard 1 year process. However the magnificent Boeing 777 acheived a first by being awarded a 207 min certification on launch in the States but was granted only 120min in Europe and had to serve its 1 year process to extend it to 180 min.

 

[HARRYC]

Yup it is ETOPS as in my post above.

Claire

ops sorry claire , hadnt read your post , you where spot on....


harryc

 

[disneyvillainlover]

On all our trips back from Orlando until 2003 [5 trips]we experianced turbulance one one occasion with BA we were strapped in for six hours, I still remember it up and down, sideways, dropping we just thought it was the norm.
Since we started using USA carriers not had any!!

I have flown hundreds of flights with work and I reckon 95% of the time no turbulance, but luck of the draw.

I have a theory and I am sure it is totally inaccuarate but I have been on some amarican carrier flights were we started to have turbulance and they announced they were looking for a different flight plan to avoid it, but with the UK companies they just go for it regardless as it costs money to alter the route, it could be just coincidence but only had turbulance wit BA and Virgin oh nearly forgot Air 2000 out of at least 100 flights accross the atlantic.

Now I know I am sad counting flights and having stupid theories lol

last october we flew with BMI/Ted and when we boarded the Ted flight he told us that there was a lot of bad weather on the way down and that it was going to be so severe that the Cabin Crew would not be allowed to leave their seats for at least 30 minutes!!! and the seatbelt signs would be lit all the way!
well on Ted/United you can listen in to the air traffic.. so I listened ... our pilot was constantly in contact with the various Airtraffic controllers and managed to avoid the bad spots .. turned out to be the smoothest flight I have had!! though our pilot had to work really hard at it... I also heard a pilot of another flight swear when he was asked to come in on a different flight path into Tampa due to the storm and was told to stay on his original... I bet they had some turbulance bless them..

 

[daipp]

We only seem to get bad turbulance GOING to America - the worse occasion was in 2003 when the Captain ordered the cabin crew to return to their seats "NOW !!" - my DW didn't think we'd complete the journey and some passengers were crying.

We have flown directly across the Atlantic several times from Gatwick but usually it hugs land.

David

 

[kathy_mandy]

I find that turbulance only happens when you've got a scalding hot cup of coffee in front of you - answer: I never drink coffee on the planes now!
also, via greenland, newfoundland etc, I thought that was the way they went anyway? to keep as close to land as possible?

Yeh , true ! I remember last trip , I went through so much tea because it all kept spilling ! Ive never felt bad turbulence but I suspect it would be pretty scary ! Especially for my sister who is petrified of flying

 

[Rain]

Maybe we should all take winter flights as I am told there is less turbulence in the winter .

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Maybe we should all take winter flights as I am told there is less turbulence in the winter .

All i can say on this I came back from Barbados last Christmas on VBirgin and we had our seat belts on about 50% of the trip, so the theroy didnt work then, that was my most active flight.

 

[Amyrlin]

Up to now we have always flow the across water route, however, this year we are flying with Thomas Cook in an Airbus A330 so I think this is more likey to be the Greenland route.

So far we have always had some turbulence, but it may also be to do with the fact we go in SEptember when there are more tropical storms.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I liked going the Azores and Burmunda route it felt far quicket and less bumpy might be that was why they went that way, Its interesting that the wind can slow you down so much, usual 9 hours out but 7 hours back.

 

[janine]

I vow everytime that I will never fly to the US again. But that mouse just makes me want to go back. I have this awful fear ever since 9/11
In 2003 our flight back home was awful. Weather was fine from Orlando to Atlanta, but it changed just as we were landing at Atlanta. We then flew in this horrendous storm back to the UK. We had over 7 hours of constant turbulance. People were screaming and kids crying. The man sitting next to me commented that 'this was nothing', he said his flight out to the US wasnt good as 2 engines failed. I thanked him kindly for telling me that. I have heard of worse flights.
This year the flight was fine with very little turbulance. I still grip hold of the seat firmly though and just wish the time away.

 

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

i'm with you Janine, i think the harder i hold onto the seat the less bumpy the flight is!! Just out of interest, as i requested our seats for next year, is it bumpier on the wing or at the back? My dad recons the wing is less bumpy and also the safest place to be as its the strongest part of the plane. My other half thnks this will be the bumpiest as surely its the wings the make the up and down motion??? does anybody know???? I am a complete wimp with flying and would like to sit in the less bumpy area of the plane.

I had a bad turbulence experience when i was about 10 - flying into galway airport on the west cost of Ireland, very small foker 50 with propellers, pilot was about 26 and he tried to land in really low fog 5 times before giving up and diverting to shannon, then the bus ride from shannon to galway was nearly as bad as the flight. we got so close to the ground at one point if my mum hadnt have been holding me down i would have tried jumping!!!

 

[El Tel]

Hi Julie. In answer to your question, the best place to fly is over the wing. This is because it is near the centre of gravity and centre of lift of the aircraft. Think of it as being at the pivot point of a see-saw and you get the idea. However, as this 'see-saw' flies you will still get overall movement due to turbulence - but it shouldn't be quite as bad.

Over the wing is indeed the strongest part of the aircraft. The wing box is where the wing is attached to the fuselage and it is a meaty structure. On the downside though, the wing is packed with fuel, so it depends on what happens! Don't worry though, despite the discomfort it is statistically much safer than driving to the airport.

I'm a nervous flier too - though getting much better due to having to fly so frequently on business. It's been a bit of a problem for me because as a kid I wanted to be a pilot - until I flew for the first time. Went into aeronautical engineering instead.

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Can anyone recommend any calming measure? I, like a lot of others, are scared ******* of flying, what works for you to calm you down? I should never have read this post. We had bad turbulance coming back from Paris a couple of years ago, having said that it couldn't have been too bad because everyone else was just looking so relaxed it was only me panicking

 

[MARTINIUS]

Can anyone recommend any calming measure? I, like a lot of others, are scared ******* of flying, what works for you to calm you down? I should never have read this post. We had bad turbulance coming back from Paris a couple of years ago, having said that it couldn't have been too bad because everyone else was just looking so relaxed it was only me panicking

I find a couple of alcoholic beverages always helps - I don't over indulge but a couple of drinks usually smooths the ride - even at 6am in the morning! I'm always apprehensive on takeoff but fine once we are in the air and never have a problem with landings either.

 

[Deedee]

I LOVE turbelence, makes the flight more exciting, and helps rock me to sleep!

Me too my DH and friends say i am sick but flying is so boring it add a little excitement!!!! The last time we hit turbulance we were trying to out run hurricane Jeanne. Our flight was the last one out of Orlando before the airport closed down.