flyenthu From United States of America, joined Dec 2012, 58 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2579 times:
Just flew Emiates 212 from IAH to DXB. The flight started encountering turbulence as it approached Newfoundland. Right near St. John's, Canada when we were about to enter the Atlantic, there was some severe turbulence. I have flown quite a bit and only one time did I experience something like this with SIA over the Pacific. The plane shook like a bus and it continued for a long time- like an hour it seemed. The F/As were asked to be seated twice. I then checked the turbulenceforecast map and it indicated exactly that area as being severely choppy. My question is why didn't the pilot plan different route if this data was already available?
On the flip side, the service was fantastic and the landing was super smooth.
type-rated From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 4355 posts, RR: 20 Reply 1, posted (5 months 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 2555 times:
Sometimes other altitudes are busy with other air traffic. Sometimes turbulence only occurs between certain altitude ranges. CAT type of turbulence does not show up on radar as does storm related turbulence. Well, the turbulence itself does not show up on radar but the type of weather that causes it does show up.
Fly North Central Airlines..The route of the Northliners!
rahulrahul From United States of America, joined Jun 2012, 136 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2062 times:
One time over the Pacific, we had this horrific turbulence. Whoo, right on landing I threw up. It was pretty bad, and I was worried a bag would fall out or something. I just closed my eyes and prayed. Only time I've been scared on a plane!
einsteinboricua From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2010, 2043 posts, RR: 6 Reply 3, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2059 times:
One time trying to land at CLT during a severe thunderstorm. The plane shook violently from side to side, up and down. A go around was executed and we ended up diverting to RDU while the storm passed by. When we returned, turbulence was still noticeable but not like before. I missed my connection to SEA and had to spend the night there.
The other time, taking off from PHL, the plane started vibrating when we hit an air pocket. The plane was never in any harm but I felt a large and sudden drop in altitude. We knew it was tough after we saw the FAs also startled.
It was scary but thrilling at the same time.
"You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky."
TupolevTu154 From UK - England, joined Aug 2004, 2119 posts, RR: 31 Reply 6, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 1999 times:
The most recent/worst notable turbulence was departing out of FCO. Usually the crew are released two to three minutes after takeoff, however on this occasion they were kept in their seats for 45 minutes. There were thunderstorms everywhere and the only way to avoid them was to fly west to OLB then north to LGW (instead of northwest across the Alps).
Lightning was flashing on both sides of the aircraft for most of the 45 minutes, but it was relatively smooth until we had no choice but to clip the top of a cell. That was a pretty wild ride. Passengers were screaming and crying, if something wasn't strapped in it would end up floating around. Just as well everybody was seated and nobody stood up to get something out of the overhead locker or go to the toilet like they usually do despite the fact the seatbelt signs are on.
Quite often the worst turbulence is the stuff that catches you completely off guard (in contrast to the example above). Wake turblence from other aircraft is an awful feeling and somehow different to bumps created by weather. If you cross a patch of wake you can be lifted off your feet for a split second then all is smooth again (like driving over a speed hump in the road). If you're following the wake you get pushed side to side and yaw all over the place. Not pleasant!
baldwin471 From UK - England, joined Mar 2012, 211 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (4 months 3 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 1998 times:
When i was flying EY404 (AUH-BKK) earlier this year, we encountered the worst turbulence i've experienced. It started almost bang on when we started crossing northern India, and didn't stop until we left the eastern side. So almost 2 hours of nonstop turbulence and the seatbelt sign constantly on. I was so tired i still managed to sleep. It's quite strange, i seem to find it easier to sleep during turbulence than when flying smoothly. I guess it's the rocking motion just helps me drift off, kind of like a baby
Luckily for us, the flight was operated by the 77W, i'd hate to think how bad it would've been in something like a 320/737.
FlyDeltaJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 1625 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (4 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 1849 times:
I was flying from LAX to SLC on a OO CR2 and we started to get some light chop at first, the pilot advised us that the turbulence was going to become much worse and advised the F/A to stop her service. I was seated in the asile and the guy next to me decided to wait until the shaking got really bad to decide to try to go to the bathroom. I told him that I wasnt getting up until the shaking stopped. He decided to try to clib over me and banged his head into the overhead. He sat back down. Everyone has a sort of "this guy" look on thier face....
AirAfreak From United States of America, joined Apr 2012, 244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (4 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1844 times:
The day after Christmas some years ago, I was impressed by the cabin crew continuing with the dinner service from CDG to JFK as the turbulence was slightly more on the moderate side. I remember holding on to my glass of wine and cognac, however, after the meal, it was quite nice in my little nest =]
texan From New Zealand, joined Dec 2003, 4204 posts, RR: 53 Reply 10, posted (4 months 2 weeks 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 1666 times:
Flying out of ZQN on an AT7. We were one of the only planes to leave the airport that day--and I think the aircraft was the only one that landed after 0900. Pilot told us that it was going to be very bumpy and that there would be no service on the flight. Stiff crosswind had the pilot making corrections on the runway to keep us from going into the grass. We hit turbulence low and then entered cloud. For those of you who haven't flown into or out of ZQN, it is surrounded by mountains on all sides. It is a damn tricky flight in good conditions, much less in poor conditions. By my estimations, people were screaming for the first three hours of that 45 minute flight. Judging purely by the noise, I'd estimate that close to 3/4 of the plane was screaming or crying. I think some people were still screaming when we landed in CHC. I turned to my friend as we walked into the terminal and said, "Well I need a drink. That was a heck of a flight, huh?" She responded, "Texan, now is NOT a time for talking." The flight rattled her a ton.
Texan
"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library."
flyenthu From United States of America, joined Dec 2012, 58 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (4 months 2 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1616 times:
I started another thread about the impending rough weather in IAH on Tuesday afternoon when my flight EK 211 is scheduled to land. I am sure it will be a bumpy ride. I'll take some video clips.
alaska737 From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 1056 posts, RR: 6 Reply 12, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1514 times:
The flying public's interpretation of "severe" or even "moderate" turbulence is SO over exaggerated it is insane. 99.9999% of the time, a frequent flyers definition of "severe" would really be classified as light or light to moderate.
This is a good page as it defines the turbulence types. The biggest thing to look at is the loss of control. Just because an airplane is bumped around and has to be returned to level flight doesn't mean it is out of control. Honestly, severe turbulence is rare, very rare. Flight attendants would not be up at all and it is also illegal to dispatch flight through an area of known severe turbulence. Light and moderate is fine and really nothing to be worried about if you have your seatbelt on.
The other thing that usually causes a major misconception is that types of planes handle turbulence better than others. The fact is, if there is unstable air out there, all planes will get knocked around. Yes a Cessna will get beaten up more than a 747, but really when you get into large transport aircraft they are all the same. In fact a 737 probably handles big changes better than a widebody, especially low level. It also depends on different airlines turbulence procedures. The slower a plane is flying, generally the better the turbulence will be. Some airlines will have it in their procedures to slow down more than others so that may cause it too.
LY777 From France, joined Nov 2005, 2448 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1513 times:
For me, it was a flight from LAX to CDG, and the flight was VERY bumpy in particular above the Rockies. The captain told us there was a lot of wind (250 km per hour). We encountered 3 air pockets at first, and 20 minutes later, a succession of at least 10 air pockets. A F/A told me this was the first time in 11 years that she encountered such severe turbulence. Of course, the service was interrupted and it was really stressful for all the passengers. And it was a 77W...I can't imagine what it could have been if it was a regional jet or 737/A320...
gauravpai From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (4 months 2 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 1488 times:
For me it was on a 777-200LR flying BOM DXB as EK501.
I was in First class suite 2A and somewhere over the Arabian Sea , some one and a half hours into the flight, there was the most fearful trembling of the aircraft, and i am not exaggerating like the youtube vids, the whole plane was moving violently for about three full minutes, sounds a small time felt like a lifetime!!
the FA s were all seated much prior to that as we were already experiencing moderate turbulence for 15-20 mins...the plane twitched like i had never witnessed before .Luckily the screams of the pax were laid to rest when the captain came on the announcement and said something along the lines of and rest assured in 5 mins or so after that it was pretty calm and soon we started our descent into DXB !!
seb146 From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9832 posts, RR: 17 Reply 16, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1450 times:
I am not used to flying. The flying I have done is short flights like PDX-SAN or SEA-JNU. I took off in a bad storm from JNU in an old AS 732Combi. That was a trip. Not really a bumpy take off or flight, just not something I had or to this day experienced. Landing in RNO is rough too as was taking off from DEN to SFO.
As I said, I am not used to flying so any aircraft movement to me does not feel right. The most calming thing for me is that I am a geography geek. We just spent 4 days in LAS and flew NK (Never again. See related post) from OAK. Following along in my mind, I was not surprised when we turned or landed. We hit a couple of bumps over the Central Valley decending to OAK.
WROORD From United States of America, joined Mar 2009, 811 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1437 times:
I would say for me the worst was AS ORD-ANC flight. First someone was having a heart attack when we were over the Canadian territories and on approach to ANC the captain came on PA system and simply said 'brace for landing". I though this was a joke till the plane started to shake every possible way. The winds were so strong and shifting that the plane was just like a kite floating in every possible direction. No one screamed as they could not get any voice out of them.
fshplns From United States of America, joined Oct 2010, 80 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (4 months 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1429 times:
My worst was at least a decade ago, TWA 727 from STL-ATL. Capt decided to wait out the severe storms while still at the gate, instead of out on the taxiways. As soon as the aircraft rotated, the very strong turbulence started, and continued for approx 1 hour. Numerous times, everyone experienced weightless-ness. Finally through the severe weather, the flight smoothed out, like we hadnt even left the gate yet(glass-smooth). At that time, about 3/4ths of the passengers left their seats and lined up at the lavs. The FAs were so rattled by the turbulence, that they just anounced that ALL drinks, including the booze was free, only stipulation was that it was self-serve.
daviation From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 432 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (4 months 1 week 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 1292 times:
After hundreds of flights, I can't recall any experience of severe turbulence. Lots of light turbulence and maybe even a couple of moderate events. Many passengers have the notion that if the plane has any vertical changes, it's severe turbulence!
You're right, on YouTube all of the 'severe turbulence' videos you can hardly see the wing even move.
The only flight in the last 15 years that really annoyed me was an AA F-100 from ORD to SWF. It was light turbulence, but it was constant. I mean, it didn't let up for a moment. No beverage service, you couldn't even read a newspaper because your eyes couldn't focus. When we landed and discovered that the captain was a woman, you should've heard the comments: wow, a woman actually landed the plane; how did she keep us alive; a woman is allowed to fly in turbulence.
It was really too much!
Having said that, flying around the Hawaiian islands in a Dash-8, for example, is an interesting experience. Nothing to wet your pants about, but you do feel all the bumps. It's fun, although I admit I did grab the armrests a few times!
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