Big C wrote:Basically I'm asking if anyone here on the board has ever had any bad turbulence on flight to Amsterdam
or anywhere. That's the only thing that worries me going to Amsterdam. Flying. I can't get hold of any
valium, and my tummy + alcohol doesn't mix well with the ups and downs of the plane.
There was a story in the news today about an Aruba to Miami flight that experienced bad turbulence
and it gave me the jitters
since I will be flying in just a little over two weeks.
Anyone have any advice on just calming your mind before your flight?
Maybe a little science behind the reason for turbulence will put your mind more at ease.
As scary as it may appear, turbulence is not dangerous to the aircraft or the passengers who have their seat-belts fastened.
Different types of turbulence come from different sources, but what you are probably referring to is "clear air turbulence" (CAT) which is commonly encountered during high-altitude cruise flight. Other forms of turbulence are generated from thunderstorm activity where the aircraft transitions through a series of updrafts and downdrafts, creating turbulence. Departures on hot summer days will also create another type of turbulence which is more ground-based and derived from convective updrafts resulting from the intense heating of the surface. This heat is radiated upward and at low altitude, it comes across as turbulence when flying through this coulmn of rising air. Cooler adjacent air moves at a different rate and the juxtaposition of these rising and sinking or unequal columns of air, give rise to turbulence.
Clear air turbulence, encountered at high-altitude is associated with the jetstream. The jetstream is a narrow band of meandering air and located in the vicinity of the tropopause. The tropopause is the atmospheric division between the troposphere and the stratosphere. At this division, an abrupt change in the temperature lapse rate occurs. Temperature changes result in pressure changes and subsequently changes in the local velocity of the air. This is CAT. Wind moving at different speed/vectors will shear and create an instability in the air. Since aircraft often cruise in or near the jetstream (to take advantage of the tailwind), CAT is a possibility.
However, even though CAT can not be painted on RADAR, aircraft crossing the "Pond" follow one of a few specific flight tracks are essentially lined up one behind the other. Since these aircraft are following the same track and altitude, they issue "ride reports" which provide observed flight conditions. These reports are then passed along to the trailing aircraft and new altitudes are issued to avoid any expected areas of turbulence.
At any rate, turbulence can be avoided and it often is, without the PAX even knowing. Occasionally though, it is unavoidable for whatever reason. Usually at lower altitudes, where CAT can still be an issue (and not associated with the jetstream), ATC may not be able to accommodate enough diversion or the flight crew chooses to continue through the small area to expedite the flight, especially when its only light turbulence. I forgot to mention that turbulence comes in the following forms:
Chop
Light
Moderate
severe
Extreme
Most PAX have only experienced light to moderate.
Getting to the aircraft aspect, the aircraft is aerodynamically protected from structural failure during turbulent encounters. In a nut shell, the proper airspeed will provide this protection. When turbulence is encountered, a "turbulence penetration speed" is adhered to. This allows the aircraft to fly safely through the air without damage. This is a function of how the oncoming or 'relative airstream" hits or curves over and around the wing. At lower penetration speeds, the wing angle is greater and should too strong a gust "attack" this wing, it will "aerodynamically stall" before "snapping off." A stall is just a loss of lift on the wing. To maintain level altitude, a wing requires to produce the same lift as weight. If the AC weight is 200 lbs., then the wing must provide lift equal to 200 lbs of lift. In a "stall" wing situation, there is less than 200 lbs of wing lift being provided, so lift is lost and a slow descent occurs.
Anyway... hope you feel a little safer about those Pond crossings!!!
BTW, cant you just get your doctor to write for some valium or xanax? Tell them youre doing a long overseas flight and get panic attacks, anxiety, time diff in sleeping, etc.
oh and 23 bong hits should be fine for a 6 hour flight
