When you fly does turbulence scare you?

[Scarpozzi]

It doesn't usually scare me at all, but a few years back I was on a flight from my local airport to Atlanta that was pretty scary. Lots of intense storms in the region - the plane got batted around badly. One thing helped me hold it together - a couple of guys I know were on the flight, continuing from Atlanta to Vegas. They had begun the Vegas party several hours before the flight, and were not fit for duty, if you know what I mean. It was great fun watching them turn every hue of green while holding their puke bags between their knees.

Was that one of the turboprops or a jet? I've not had too many bad flights since that's only a 45-55 minute flight.

 

[dank69]

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I've experienced that. Luckily I hadn't received my drink order yet so I didn't get doused, but others did.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I was a little worried because 1) we flew over Baghdad. I was worried that we were going to be shot down accidentally or on purpose. 2) we flew up north in very cold weather. I kept thinking about the Air France crash a few years ago. They had issues with their pitot tubes freezing which lead to their deaths. I looked out the window and I was imagining the temperature of the freezing water below.

Q: Why do they fly in an arc like that? Do they do it to save jet fuel?

Yikes yeah I would be scared shitless flying in those areas. Freezing I would not be that worried, it's almost always freezing here. I recently read that the Air France one was called because BOTH pilots fell asleep.

I've only flown within Canada and would have little reason to go outside of the country. Even the US would make me a bit nervous, not because of terrorist attacks, but because of TSA. I'm sure there are things online I've said about the US government that would probably have me flagged. Don't want to go to US prison. D:

 

[NuclearNed]

Was that one of the turboprops or a jet? I've not had too many bad flights since that's only a 45-55 minute flight.

I think it was a jet, but I can't remember for sure

 

[venkman]

To the OP, download an app called SOAR (on iphone, prob on Android also). It uses the built in accelerometer to tell you how many Gs the plane is currently experiencing. On a recent, midly turbulent flight, it went between 0.80 and 1.20 G in the worst chop, but mostly stayed between 0.99 and 1.01 G during the majority of flight (which isn't too different than the readings I got on my toilet at home). A plane is rated to sustain flight between -1 and 2.5 G and up to 5 G temporarily.

It also has some good mental exercises to help you calm your anxiety.

I have flown 90 segments so far this year and I still get jumpy/white knuckled at turbulence and the app has helped me.

 

[jlee]

No

^^

 

[Mai72]

To the OP, download an app called SOAR (on iphone, prob on Android also). It uses the built in accelerometer to tell you how many Gs the plane is currently experiencing. On a recent, midly turbulent flight, it went between 0.80 and 1.20 G in the worst chop, but mostly stayed between 0.99 and 1.01 G during the majority of flight (which isn't too different than the readings I got on my toilet at home). A plane is rated to sustain flight between -1 and 2.5 G and up to 5 G temporarily.

It also has some good mental exercises to help you calm your anxiety.

I have flown 90 segments so far this year and I still get jumpy/white knuckled at turbulence and the app has helped me.

Thanks, but I looked on Google Play and I didn't notice it. I did notice the SOAR app that's developed by an ex pilot.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Doesn't bother me at all. Modern aircraft can handle way more turbulence than I've ever experienced and I was on a flight once that dropped so fast a flight attendant was thrown off her feet and landed in some guy's lap.

Just keep your lap belt buckled when you're seated and enjoy the ride. If something happens you can't do jack shit about it anyway so worrying isn't going to accomplish anything.

 

[crab]

I usually love turbulence, but it can become quite tiring - especially in something small (General Aviation)