Airline Commander and Crew Mentor, Qrewmentor helps and guides crew members to access jobs with honesty and professionalism.
Months ago the Aerolíneas Argentinas flight AR-1133 suffered a case of severe turbulence in flight.
Unfortunately there were 12 people affected and some damage to the plane.
We are going to give some guidelines on turbulence.
As an initial message we will say that turbulence is common on flights, although the large percentage of it is light.
In 31 years of flying as a pilot, I have experienced severe turbulence on 2 occasions (once on Jeju Island in Korea during the typhoon season and another in Bilbao during an approach with a southwest wind).
On a cruise I have never had it (if moderate) and I hope not to have it (that’s why I always ask for peaceful skies for everyone).
There are 2 phases of flight regarding turbulence.
The secured cabin (passengers and crew seated and with seat belts fastened).
The unsecured cabin, where passengers can stand up and do not have to wear their seat belts.
In the first phase (taxi, takeoff, climb generally up to flight level 100, phases with seat belts fastened, descent around flight level 200, approach, landing and taxi) the passengers are already in “safe mode”.
It is unusual for there to be bumps and problems among other things because the bins are closed and everyone is insured on the plane.
In the second (cruise) is where it can usually happen more easily.
How can we protect ourselves?
The first premise is ANTICIPATE
The mathematical models for predicting turbulence are amazingly good (but not perfect) and due to the butterfly effect, a small variation can alter the final result enormously.
In the flight plans, the pilots have a prediction of the level of turbulence that we are going to suffer in the flight.
Sometimes we can avoid it, sometimes we can not (the area is too large).
That is why in the briefing the captain gives information about the expected turbulence and usually asks that in case of doubt, we do the most conservative procedure: secure the cabin.
And by securing the cabin you have to understand this:
Seated passengers with seat belts fastened. All passengers, children and babies included.
Elements that fly off can do damage in some way.
Heavy items such as laptops, bags or backpacks (better under the seat), the one that can break (glass) or burn (hot drinks).
The bins are well closed (it is common for them to open during severe turbulence) and this is the work of the auxiliary crew, and it is more difficult in winter because passengers carry suitcases and coats and more things than in summer.
Galleys and trolleys for food and drink.
They weigh a lot, they are hard and they carry glass and hot elements, come on, they are the perfect combo to cause injuries in turbulence.
The safer the better.
Generally we will not go beyond moderate turbulence and in cruise it can be associated with 2 meteorological phenomena:
Storms that we avoid almost completely thanks to the radar that we carry on board and the air traffic control services.
Wind and/or temperature changes. This is called TAC Clear Air Turbulence.
It is not visible (there is no cloud) and we do not know its intensity or its real duration and it is this that usually catches us off guard and it is for this reason that we always ask everyone inside the plane to keep their seatbelts fastened as most as possible.
Because we like to take our passengers happy and safe to their destination.
Until then (and today more than ever) find peaceful skies.
Enrique. Qrewmentor Team.
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