Stories by Louis Ibah
Turbulence makes most people nervous but it’s rare to be hurt by it and it definitely doesn’t mean there’s a problem with the plane. For a first time flyer who runs into a very terrible turbulence, the experience can be scary enough to discourage further air travel. Although there’s no pulling over and stopping once you get on board an aircraft, it is worth noting that hardly does turbulence bring down an aircraft and, in fact, airplane crashes are much less common than car accidents. Turbulence can happen without warning, causing an aircraft to shudder or dip erratically. Items may shift and fall and passengers might be jostled in their seats. The sudden lift or plummet of an altitude change can cause discomfort in the passengers, and fear is a natural reaction. Fortunately, most cases of turbulence are completely harmless and there are ways to combat even more serious turbulence to help yourself and your fellow passengers.
What is flight turbulence?
Turbulence occurs when an airplane hits a strong wind current. Like a wave in water, these air currents can push or pull the plane. Most commercial jets fly high enough to avoid most wind patterns but occasional gusts can occur at any altitude. When this happens, the airplane is buffeted by the wind. It may gain or lose altitude, or it may simply shudder under the strain of the cross-winds.
If you think of the sky as a giant lake, turbulence makes more sense. Air behaves much like water. It forms currents, swirls, pushes against mountains and recoils from aircraft that cross it. Just as a ship may be rocked by the passage of another boat, wake turbulence can be created whenever an aircraft passes through a patch of sky. If you think of air as a liquid, understanding the patterns of air turbulence becomes much simpler.
There are several types and causes of air turbulence that an aircraft may encounter. Most of them are referred to as clear air turbulence because they can occur even when there is no visible weather. This makes them difficult to detect and pilots may not know they’ll occur until they fly into them.
Thermals: These are caused by the exchange of rising hot air and sinking cooler air.
Jet streams: Air currents at high altitudes shift rapidly, which can cause disturbances to the nearby air.
Mountains: Air may behave differently on one side of a mountain than the other; air turbulence is common when crossing a mountain range.
Wake turbulence: If the airplane passes by another plane or helicopter, the wake created by the other aircraft can cause turbulence.
Is Turbulence Dangerous?
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, turbulence is responsible for 75 per cent of all weather-related aircraft crashes. Severe turbulence can structurally damage the airplane and cause the pilot to lose control, which may in turn lead to a crash. Even in airplanes that do not crash, turbulence can still cause accidents. Indeed, it is the primary cause of injury to aircraft passengers and flight attendants.
Recently, a Delta Air flight attendant sustained injuries when her plane caught severe turbulence before landing in Newark, New Jersey. Another flight on Emirates Airline resulted in injuries for 10 passengers and three members of the flight crew. In both cases, no one who was injured was wearing a seatbelt at the time the turbulence hit.
All the same, turbulence is rarely very serious. Even severe cases of turbulence rarely end in a crash. Pilots are trained to handle clear air turbulence and they know how to manoeuvre a plane through even the worst rough patches. Moreover, airplanes are built to be very sturdy and withstand a beating. Even planes that sustain damage will usually continue to fly until the pilot can get them safely on the ground.
How to handle flight turbulence
In all but the most severe turbulence situations, injuries can be avoided by simply wearing your seatbelt and remaining seated during your flight. Nearly every passenger who becomes injured by turbulence sustains those injuries by being tossed or thrown about the cabin. Whenever you are seated, be sure to wear your seatbelt even if the flight attendants have said it’s safe to move about the cabin. If you do get up to move around, restrict your movement to necessary routes, like traveling to the bathroom, and pick the nearest lavatory to your seat. Wandering around the airplane stretching your legs can put you at risk from sudden or unexpected turbulence.
If you are so scared of flying because of air turbulence, it is adviceable to try to get a seat in front or near the centre of the aircraft. Turbulence is felt more keenly in the tail end and is mildest around the wings. So better book a seat at the front of the plane where any bumps and shakes are felt much less keenly. Then treat turbulence as you would a bump in the road when driving and let your body sway into it, implicitly letting your body know that the extra motion is out of your control. Fighting it will only make you more anxious.
“Turbulence is uncomfortable but not dangerous. It is part of flying and is not to be feared,” said BA pilot, Steve Allright.
Be sure your seatbelt fits comfortably. If it’s too small to latch comfortably, ask the flight attendant for an extender. Be sure to safely stow away your luggage. If you access the overhead compartment for any reason, be sure it latches. Otherwise, the luggage could break free and injure someone.
Use the restroom before takeoff. This will reduce your odds of needing it during all but the longest of flights. Also avoid diuretics like coffee, tea and soda; opt for plain water or juice instead.
If you do hit a patch of turbulence, it’s important to keep calm. Practice deep breathing techniques and relax your muscles. Tension can cause soft tissue injuries if you’re jostled around, and it won’t help you deal with a true emergency any more effectively. As long as you remain calm, wear your seatbelt and follow any instructions given by the pilot and attendants, you should be entirely safe while flying.
Despite the fears that many people have about flying, airplanes are one of the safest ways to travel. Constant improvements in airplane design and the way pilots are trained make flying safer every year. It’s okay to be a little nervous but arming yourself with knowledge can keep you from being afraid the next time you step onto a plane.