Turbulence on plane

[Rain]

A friend came back from Orlando a couple of weeks ago, she said she is never going again due to bumpy flight.

This got me thinking as to how many of us do have bumpy flights and how bad they were.

Equally important how many of us have had really smooth flights.

Hopefully I may be able to re-assure her.

 

[mushumadness]

Hi

I have had both, I am scared to death when its turbulent, and nearly draw blood on my dbfs hands from holding on

but thankfully it normally smooths out and it hasnt put me off going

 

[snookhams]

We flew out on the 4th and arrived home yesterday and had really bad turbulance on both flights - in fact on the way out the seat belt sign was on more than it was off and it was quite bad, on the way back as soon as we had taken off the cabin crew came around closing all the window blinds and asking us to keep them closed and then served us our meal, just before the meal came around the seat belt sign came on and was on for ages it was quite bumpy and made me feel sick. we never did find out why the blinds were closed.

 

[Rain]

I have never heard of the blinds being closed before either???

 

[snookhams]

We did wonder if there was a storm, as the clouds were very dark and impending when we took off, and this was done not to frighten people, other than that we could not see a reason for it.

 

[disneyholic family]

I have never heard of the blinds being closed before either???

on our flights the blinds are always closed.....so that people can sleep regardless of whether it's light out or not....of course, we fly on a 12 hour non-stop.....

in any case, as soon as we take off the flight attendants come around to have everyone close the blinds....even before they serve dinner.....the blinds then stay closed until they serve breakfast....(about 10 hours later)..

as for turbulence, whenever you fly over weather you have turbulence....
sometimes quite intense turbulence....don't worry...planes can fly through pretty bad stuff.....we had one massive drop once (where some people actually got somewhat injured), and one man seemed to be having a heart attack due to fear (but his nitro pills seemed to do the trick).....but it was just the weather...after about an hour of roller coastering through the air, we were into smooth sailing...

i was even on a plane that was hit by lightening.....the pilot only told us after we landed about a half hour later (we'd just taken off and were hit on the way up)....apparently it was all in a days work for him......we landed...they checked out the plane and off we went again across the big blue water...

and then there are the 12 hours of turbulence flights.....not fun....but not dangerous.....you try to sleep and every once in a while it gets so bumpy it's impossible to sleep...except for those passengers who take sleeping pills on take off....they sleep like babies through everything....only waking up as we hit the runway....or a few minutes before so they can put themselves back together before heading off to their meetings...

maybe you should try valium?

 

[Laurafoster]

Turbulence should always be expected at this time of year due to the storm season, there are usually alot more clouds and depressions etc that you have to fly through or over. That said it is equally possible that you can have a great flight with nothing at all.

 

[jen_uk]

Everytime Ive flown back from the States theres been turbulence, sometimes bad sometimes not. Once it was so bad the plane kept dropping very fast, very quickly and then rising again very quickly and at the same time it was constantly shaking from side to side. Lots of people were crying and kept screaming every time it dropped (it felt like an eternity when this happened!), loads of people were sick and most seats didnt have any sick bags so people were being sick in the aisles which smelt foul!

 

[gilld]

I think every long haul flight we've been on has had some turbulance, but not too much. The worst was flying to Buenos Aires, flying over the Brazilian rainforest when the seatbelt sign was on for a couple of hours, but even that wasn't too bad...except I needed the loo!!!

 

[cazzie]

I knew I should stay away from this thread but no I had to just peek...

 

[feistyblue]

We didn't have any flying out to Florida but a little on the way back - fairly violent but short lived.

 

[wicket2005]

We had slight turbulence coming back but have never experienced bad turbulence. We always keep our belts fastened in any case.

 

[Danauk]

Most of the transatlantic flights that I have taken have been OK. We have had a few patches of turbulence but not much. I hope it will be the same when I fly at Christmas.

 

[The Murfs]

Hi

We just got back yesterday, we only had a bit of turbulence both ways. Only once a couple of years ago did we have it quite prolonged, but not enough to put us off going again and again...

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

A lot of the turbulance is because of the jetstream which airlines use to reduce fuel.
Turbulance is NOT a problem. Aircraft are deigned to soak up a LOT more than you will ever see

the other form is CAT Clear air turbulance, a tricky devil which does not show up on weather radars etc..

This is why when seated yoiu should always keep you seat belt on even if it is loose

 

[disneyholic family]

A lot of the turbulance is because of the jetstream which airlines use to reduce fuel.
Turbulance is NOT a problem. Aircraft are deigned to soak up a LOT more than you will ever see

the other form is CAT Clear air turbulance, a tricky devil which does not show up on weather radars etc..

This is why when seated yoiu should always keep you seat belt on even if it is loose

yes we always keep our seatbelts fastened regardless of the conditions...
what i truly hate are the arrogant idiots who think it's silly to sit down and put on seatbelts even when the captain puts on the sign (and the plane is bouncing around)...
i was on a plane last year, on my way to germany with a group of men in business class who commute there every week (there on sunday, back home on thursday night).....the captain turned on the seatbelt sign but they kept right on standing in the aisles and chitchatting with each other...
they wouldn't even move when the stewardess instructed them to sit...
they just looked at her and one said, "what....are we bothering you???"...

finally i said to the guy who was standing by my chair talking to the guy in front of me, "i really don't care if when we hit turbulence you hit the ceiling and break your neck, but it do care that you'll kill me on the way back down..."..
he looked at me with shock and dagger eyes but got back into his seat and put on his seatbelt...

 

[Cochise]

This is why when seated yoiu should always keep you seat belt on even if it is loose

Never undo my seat belt when sitting, great advice Obi.

You have to liken planes flying to something like currents underwater. There are disturbances, currents and swells. The weather including certain cloud formations (anvil tops etc), mountains etc cause turbulance, nobody really likes it but it is all a means to an end.

We go in 6 weeks and my DW who has flown loads to her family in Spain is beginning to not like flying at all, i have my work cut out to get her through the long haul. I think the 2h30m internal will be a breeze from there.

 

[shellbell]

I knew I should stay away from this thread but no I had to just peek...

lol i know what you mean.

We had turbulance on both flights, It was worse on the way out than on the way back. I would be so scared if the plane conitued to drop like some of you have mentioned


Michelle

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

We had turbulence on the way back Thursday, but no more than I would usually expect. Doesn't freak me out too much, but does DH.

With regards the window blinds, we were told a few years ago by the captain that they don't take off with the cabin lights on when it's dark, so guess this might be one of the reasons (they always turn the main lights off inside, just have the side strip ones on), although you can put on your individual lights if you want to read

Turbulence is all part of flying - expect some and if you don't get any, it's a bonus.

PS - I quite agree about the arrogant ones. With about 4 mins to landing, a woman pops up and barrels down the aisle. Cabin crew girlie stopped her asking her to get back to her seat since we were due to land, but she was insistent on going to the loo (rudely so), so the cabin crew girlie said, ok, but if you hurt yourself I have told you not to get out of your chair and all these people are my witnesses. Woman huffed off and used the loo (just getting back to her seat in time for touchdown). Whilst I appreciate that when you've gotta go, you've gotta go, but surely she could have held on for another 5 mins - as desperate as I can get, no way would I risk that)

 

[Clare D]

I know last Dec when we flew we had some but I was more worried when DH and I went to Dublin on a little Ryan Air Plane as I felt every bounce and blip that we had. I always feel safer flying on a bigger plane. I think each long haul flight we have done there has been some turbulence.

I had a C Section to have my son and when people ask me what it felt like, I liken it to turbulence!