Tips on coping with turbulence

[Juz76]

Hi all,

I'm currently in Melbourne and heading home to Sydney this afternoon, but am at the point of absolute stress having not slept last night worried about the flight and the current gfale force wind warnings in both Sydney & Melbourne.

I've been flying aslmost every day for the past 4 weeks, and have only had 1 really bumpy landing into Hobart. I;ve just read a post about a flight that was MEL - ADL but turned back cause the weather was too bad to land.

Can anyone give me some tips or technical information to put my mind at ease? I'm worried that its going to be seatbelts on tight for the entire flight home.

Thanks to all.

Justin

 

[Flashback]

Welcome to AFF Juz76!

You seem to have travelled a lot so am sure you've had turbulence before. I've flown through weather such as you've indicated and the turbulence has been no worse than usual. If it does worry you, chuck on some music to block out the noise and try relax

 

[straitman]

Juz76,

Welcome to AFF.

Probably the best tip I can give you is that the pilots will not fly or go where they could get injured or hurt. ie Remember the crew are the ones with the aviation experience, knowledge and training they will not go where it is unsafe as they also value their own existence.

Also look at the lack of major aviation issues within Australia.

You will be OK:!:

 

[NYCguy]

If the cabin-crew aren't looking worried, then I'm not worried. Much better just to tighten your seatbelt and enjoy the bumps!

 

[Flying Fox]

Totally agree with the comments about AUS flight safety.

Perhaps close your eyes & pretend you are on a bumpy road in your car.

 

[auriga]

I worry about getting air sick.

 

[winfred]

In the last 3 months, I have spent no less than 80 hours on an aeroplane. I got scared and sweat badly during every takeoff and landling and every time the pilot turned on the fasten seatbelt sign. The strange thing is I still look forward to my next flight.

I try to calm myself with the following every time:

- as I only fly reputable airlines (QF, CX, Virgin, BA, SG and I recently removed Air France), they would put safely ahead of everything else due not only to moral issues but a big hit in profit (and the people at the top's pay packet) if anything bad happens.

- if the pilot tells you everything is ok, it probably is.

- No need to panic until the crew show signs of panic. I have seen it before when I flew from LA to Vegas on a 12 seater. I ripped up the return ticket as soon as I got off the plane and cleaned myself up from the vommitting and flew back on a 767.

- try to fall asleep before take-off.

Good luck with your potentially bumpy trip.

 

[harvyk]

Keep your seatbelt on, and feel free to clip any pax over the ears who do not do the same...

As others have said turbulence is an extremely normal part of flying. I'm pretty sure just about any commerical aircraft is fitted with weather radar to prevent flying through severe turbulence.

The only piece of additional advice I can give is make sure you don't need to eat whilst on the plane itself (as they may not have cabin service for safety reasons), I would also suggest not eating just before you get on either, and make sure you use the toilet prior to boarding the aircraft as it may not be a (safe) option during the flight.

Apart from that, take comfort in the fact that Australia has some of the highest aviation standards in the world, plus pilots will not fly if they are not 100% confident of arriving at the destination safely.

 

[NM]

My important tip on coping with turbulence was offered to me by a very experienced QF captain. He told me that the best way to avoid spilling your drink during turbulence is to leave it sitting on the tray. Trying to hod your drink while bouncing around is more likely to result in your hand over-reacting to the movement causing you to spill the contents. Leave it on the table until the bumps stop.

If the drink does spill when sitting on the table, then you can certain you would have lost more of the contents if trying to hold it.

Of course an even better way is to ensure the contents are consumed and thus residing in a place where it should remain protected.

 

[docjames]

Of course an even better way is to ensure the contents are consumed and thus residing in a place where it should remain protected.

Unless post #6 happens. I'd rather have non-partially digested orange juice on me then the alternative......

 

[jamesatfish]

On a positive note (if this reaches you in time for your flights), today's winds seem to be far worse at ground level than at altitude.

Just did CBR-SYD (on a 737) and SYD-CBR (on a Q400) this morning - both were a little bumpy around SYD but once at altitude (even at 18,000ft in the Q400) things were pretty much smooth as normal. The seatbelt light was extinguished on both flights and there was time for the normal meal / snack service both ways.

 

[NM]

Unless post #6 happens. I'd rather have non-partially digested orange juice on me then the alternative......

Hence my use of italics for the word "should"

 

[shampagne]

hi, i'm new here, and can relate to the nervousness during turbulence. my secret is to fly after midday - and have a glass of wine or a beer before takeoff. it's not the best option i agree, but it settles my nerves 200% for the preceeding flight

also, I've heard there's a liquid thing you can buy from places like Herbal Chemists, that you put a couple of drops under your tongue and it settles any nerves/anxiousness (sorry don't have any more info).

hope your flight was ok. I'm from Canberra, it's rather windy here today (gust last night got to 83km/h):shock: I'm only telling you that now as I assume you've either already flown, or been pushed back to a later flight. Good thing is the SYD>CBR route is only 45mins or so - not so long to have to be scared. Hope it was ok, let us know

 

[shampagne]

PS - Been on a flight CBR>BRI at 0630hrs (VB)- they said seatbelts all the way and no hot drinks would be served due to turbulence :shock: and it actually wasn't that bad in the end, I'd had a lot worse turbulence during the 80's... think maybe better designed planes + improved technology for detecting turbulence = better flights / less turbulence :mrgreen:

 

[flyer4703]

I flew into Sydney this morning and the turbulence was nowhere near as bad as I expected.
I am not a great fan of turbulence, my strategy to cope with it is to try and distract myself. I bought an ipod touch to help with that so now when it's bumpy I am playing Scrabble, Sudoku,watching a comedy show or listening to mind numingly loud music,it helps.
I wish alcohol worked for me but it usually doesn't, maybe I just haven't drunk enough.

 

[munitalP]

There are some good posts here - NM has a point, store the liquids inside especially if it is crown or a good chardy - I guess I don't rearly worry about turbulance, I am a flyer who always has his seat belt on and tries not to use the loo during flights. Long haul is different obviously, but there's a risk in everything we do.

My suggestion is simply this - you are not in control, you have no control of your destiny, therefore, why worry? You forfeited that control when you scanned your boarding pass, you are likely in a state of the art aircraft, designed and tested for extremes far beyond what is likely to happen - did I mention why worry? The stats of a modern aircraft being downed by turbulence is very low.

You say that you have flown most days for 4 months - thats 80ish flights - thats quite a number of flights to have taken and still require positive reinforcement regarding lumps and bumps in the sky - ever considered a job where you can drive?

Mr!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I treat it like a game and ride with it. Some big bumps then I'll egg on more and more turbulance. It's like a rollercoaster that never goes upside down, has any g-forces and costs a lot more to ride... come to think of it flying is nothing like a rollercoaster. :arrow:

 

[rach22au]

I know how you feel.....I am terrified of flying, but strangely look forward to it...weird I know! I am a 29 yo recovery/anaesthetic clinical nurse specialist and one of the lovely anaesthetists always prescribes me with xanax.....a small dose (one that doesn't knock you out) works wonders for anxiety,.......it just stops you feeling worried....it works really well and I highly recommend it if you are anxious about turbulance. I did all the non drug stuff like reading fear of flying books, listening to podcasts on it etc....however I am still scared! I know it is safe, and that turbulance is not really dangerous (I.E the plane won't drop out of the sky...it is just bumpy) but xanax is the only way that I can travel Maybe you could ask your Dr for it and try a small dose before you travel to see how you react to it?

 

[Juz76]

I just want to thank everyone for their feedback, its actually helped quite a bit. It's good to get some tips rather than the predictable slagging off banta from my colleagues about how much of a sook I am.

As it tuns out, it was a really bump take off and landing, but was pretty much dead still while we were at cruising altitude.

You'd think with the amount of flying I do I'd be fine, but some bad turbulence still knocks me round a bit. It's this love / hate relationship I have with airplanes. They fascinate me, I can't wait to get on an A380, and I generally can't wait for my next flight. But as soon as the bumps start to get bad, my confidence is shot.

I'm going to try the Xanax option, that sounds like the trick!

Thanks again one and all.

 

[albatross710]

Hi all,

Can anyone give me some tips or technical information to put my mind at ease? I'm worried that its going to be seatbelts on tight for the entire flight home.

Thanks to all.

Justin

If it is any consolation I used Microsoft Flight Simulator to create some really nasty stormy weather at Brisbane airport with strong cross winds at night. As long as I stay on autopilot with the automated approach system until the landing flare the aircraft always landed safely on the centre line.

Just ask the pilots on your flights to let the aircraft do the flying!

Alby