Business Flights Cross Country Turbulence Fears

[Jeff N.]

This is off RE topic, but since we have a lot of professionals on here and I noticed a few pilots I'm hoping to get some insight on the gravity of my fears.

I travel a lot with my company, including flights cross-country and the dreaded Atlanta to Honolulu flight a few times a year. I thoroughly enjoy the destinations, especially when it is in an area that I can check on some potential RE investments. But I have an extreme fear of turbulence in the skies. At 36K feet bouncing around in a tube in sever turbulence makes for a gut wrenching few hours.

To those pilots on BiggerPockets, are these fears justified? Should I not worry until my drinks are hitting the ceiling? What are you guys doing in the cockpit when flying through severe turbulence?

[Mitch Kronowit]

Originally posted by Jeff N.:

What are you guys doing in the cockpit when flying through severe turbulence?

I'm usually laughing and cheering, as if I were on a roller-coaster. :mrgreen:

Seriously, turbulence is classified as light, moderate, severe, and extreme and you have probably never been in "severe" turbulence, although it probably felt like it at the time. I've been flying for 20 years and only experienced "severe" turbulence once, and that was on a small (30 passenger aircraft) while we were descending into Palm Springs, crossing the ridge south of Mount Jacinto.

But as much as I enjoy the rocking and rolling, we understand bouncing around the cabin isn't everybody's idea of fun, so the first thing we do is turn on the "Fasten Seat Belt" sign, slow down the airplane, and ask ATC if there is a better "ride" at another altitude. If bad enough, we'll also make a PA announcement for the flight attendants to sit down ASAP.

Don't worry about the airplane. It can handle more shaking than your teeth. And there's no such thing as "air pockets" or other nonsense. Air is similar to a fluid, like water, and it contains waves and eddies just like babbling brook. Flying an aircraft through an area of turbulence isn't much unlike taking a raft down a whitewater river. THE AIRPLANE IS NOT GOING TO PLUMMET TO THE EARTH!. Not unless it breaks up in flight which is practically unheard of for a passenger airliner.

And I've never had to make an emergency landing following a turbulence encounter (Palm Springs didn't count because we were already landing). The most serious danger from everyday turbulence is from people getting tossed around the cabin. If anybody gets seriously hurt, that would warrant an emergency landing, but for medical reasons, not for airplane damage.

So listen to the freekin' safety brief and keep your seatbelt fastened when you're in your seat!!! :wink: