Pilots and turbulence

[monkeyshaved]

Maybe I'm alone in this, but I wondered about other people's experiences of pilots informing passengers about turbulence during flights.

In my experience, passengers are lucky to get a rushed and muffled comment before take off about the weather en route. Then if the plane hits turbulence and the seatbelt sign comes on - nothing.... I know its difficult to predict, but if people are anything like me, its some comfort during turbulence to know: A. That the pilot can feel it too, and isn't oblivious to the (albeit illogical) anxiety some passengers might be feeling. B. Any idea from the pilot as to what is causing it (a front, jet stream etc.) and any guess as to how long it will last - I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that part of my fear comes from worrying that when you hit turbulence, thats only the start of it and the rest of the flight will consist of hours of turbulence increasing in severity and I'm stuck on a plane with a pilot who's so experienced that he (or she) barely notices it!

[tb_neg]

I do think the pilots notice it, but it really depends on who's flying that craft that day. Some are the stoic non communicative type, and some are really quite good at communicating. I've flown Northwest mainly, and I find that they are very good about communicating the smallest bump in the sky and I just haven't experienced what you've experienced on your flights, they are very communicative.

Also, read this column for a bit more color on the whole thing.

http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/...skthepilot207/

What airline do you usually fly?

[monkeyshaved]

I guess I'm basing these experiences on recent flying generally on budget airlines in Europe - maybe you have to pay extra for communicative pilots!

Or maybe there is a difference between short / long haul or Europe / North America. As you say, I'm sure a lot comes down to who is "behind the wheel". If only Northwest flew around Europe, I'd be much happier!!

Fingers crossed for a smooth flight with a non-stoic, highly communicative British Airways pilot on my impending LHR - EWR next week...

Regards

[tb_neg]

Make sure you post a request for a personalized forecast for your LHR-EWR when it comes up. Sounds like Continental for you?

As for Europe turbulence, check the Europe page, the maps are actually pretty good, and they predict future trouble spots.

As for the stoic pilots, I guess communication is extra money.

[monkeyshaved]

My mistake - actually LHR - JFK on British Airways (a daytime flight - always finds that helps in as much as you can see something out the window during any turbulence)

[vikingjunior]

I hate when am on a flight and we hit moderate to severe turbulence and the pilot doesn't come on the PA to say anything.

This one flight it was a red eye from PHX-JFK America West and we hit severe turbulence shortly after take off, well this turbulance lasted for another 3 hours and the pilot never said a word. My heart was in my mouth the whole flight. At one point I got up and walked to the back of the plane were the FA was sitting and asked her if this was normal, she said" NO now go sit down". I'll never take America West again.

I find Jet Blue pilots to be very communicative.

[tb_neg]

I'm not a fan of America West (now US Air), see this blog post:

http://www.turbulenceforecast.com/bl...n-your-flight/

[Putt4Par]

This one flight it was a red eye from PHX-JFK America West and we hit severe turbulence shortly after take off, well this turbulance lasted for another 3 hours and the pilot never said a word.

You guys are funny. You hit "severe" turbulence and then it lasted 3 hours? It is very obvious you don't know what severe turbulence is. Most pilots experience severe turbulence only two or three times in their careers. Severe turbulence is very short lived, no more than 10 seconds altogether. During severe turbulence the aircraft is out of control for a few seconds...meaning, the pilot cannot override what is happening.

Moderate turbulence is more common....the plane dropping fast and then going up, wings tilting from one side to the other, fishtailing. Even then, pilots will do everything possible to get out of moderate turbulence as it is very uncomfortable. Something that lasted for 3 hours was probably light with some moderate jolts. Nothing to be worried about.

Matter of fact, turbulence does nothing to a pilot. They change altitudes to give passangers a smoother ride. In most cases the autopilot is engaged and continues to be engaged as the airplane goes through the turbulence.

The only times an airplane goes through moderate turbulence and there is nothing to do is during approach or during ascend, but again, this is short lived.

P4P