News & Articles
Facts About Flying Fears
Flying Weather Conditions
Flying in Turbulence and
Bad Weather
Many people are scared to fly because they are fearful of flying
in turbulence and bad flying weather conditions.
Whilst disturbances in the weather are a very
natural phenomena, they can feel very unnatural to passengers
in an aircraft cabin at 36,000 feet.
Turbulence is simply an irregular flow of air that
often occurs unexpectedly and usually cannot be seen. It is caused
by a variety of conditions:
-
flying in the vicinity of thunderstorms
-
flying through cloud
-
flying over mountains
-
flying at high altitude near to jet streams
-
flying in or close to a weather front
-
flying between air masses of differing temperatures
The degree of turbulence is described by a numerical
identifier or a descriptive word
-
light (1)
-
moderate (3)
-
severe (5)
- extreme (6)
Common Misconceptions
It is not called an “air pocket” and, despite sensational
reports to the contrary, with the use of modern autopilots, aircraft
do not drop through the sky when they encounter turbulence.
Flying in turbulence is no more dangerous than
driving along a bumpy road. No-one can deny that it can be uncomfortable
but it will not cause damage to the aircraft and the only way it
can possibly cause harm to passengers or crew is if they insist
on walking around the cabin and risk stumbling or falling.
You will find that pilots will switch on the “fasten
seat belt” sign if they are expecting or experiencing turbulence
on the flight. This is for your comfort as well as for your
safety.
Pilots liaise with each other, through air traffic
control centres, to report turbulence as this helps with flight
planning. Flight routes can be altered to avoid bad weather, if
necessary. No-one, passengers or crew, wants a bumpy ride.
Pilots will almost always do their best to warn passengers
if they expect to be flying in turbulence if it cannot be avoided.
Whilst it may be easy to route around turbulence in midair, it is
not so easy if the weather at the take off or landing airport is
not so good.
If weather conditions are unsuitable for either
take off or landing the pilot will not attempt either.
It is as simple as that.
For more information on flying weather conditions
in the UK
click here...
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Flying
Weather Conditions - Weather Check
You may have heard about clear air turbulence or CAT which occurs
in clear air and cannot be picked up by weather radar, although
pilots and forecasters can usually identify likely areas of CAT
by inspecting weather charts.
If you are going to be flying in or around the
USA
you
can check yourself to see if you are
likely to be flying in turbulence.
Take Off Flying Weather
Conditions
For take off a consideration will be the component
of the wind that is blowing across, rather than down, the runway
– the crosswind factor.
All aircraft have a certified maximum cross wind limit
in which they are cleared to take off or land. In a light aircraft
this may be as little as 15knots for an airliner it is as much as
45 knots.
In the unlikely event that the wind is outside
the documented limits the flight will be delayed or cancelled.
Landing Flying
Weather Conditions
For landing, there are also cross wind limits and
these may vary depending on the landing technique to be employed
and also on the runway conditions.
If the weather is outside limits at the destination
the pilot will either hold, if the forecast suggests an imminent
improvement, or divert. The pilot will not operate the aircraft
outside the documented limits.
Aircraft Structure in
Bad Flying Weather Conditions
You may be wondering about the structure of the
aircraft flying in turbulence?
When aircraft are air tested they are stressed to an extent
that it is almost impossible to replicate in flight.
There is no possibility of parts of the airframe
being broken off by extreme weather. If an aircraft does encounter
severe turbulence the pilot will report this fact when landing and
the aircraft will be checked by an engineer before it next flies.
Safety is the first priority of all airlines.
Pilot Priorities
in Bad Flying Weather Conditions
On the subject of priorities, be aware that the pilot
will always put his duties of flying the aircraft first and foremost.
If, in bad weather conditions, there is no news from
the flight deck do not assume the worst. Try to relate it to your
experiences of driving in bad weather – do you converse with your
passengers or do you concentrate on the road? As soon as the workload
in the cockpit diminishes your pilot will talk to you and let you
know what is going on.
I hope that by telling you more about flying in turbulence
and its effect on the aircraft and flights, you discover that knowledge
begins to diminish fear. Never forget that the pilot wants to
get home to his loved ones too……this particular pilot has a young
son and wife to whom he likes to return each evening. |
