Tranceport From Canada, joined Jul 2003, 272 posts, RR: 2 Posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 1571 times:
Can we please have a discusson on what comprises severe turbulence?
In all my years of flying, I've had little experience with turbulence beyond the occasional patches of little up and down bumps.
The only exception once was a flight landing in ABQ just before a severe thunderstorm. The aircraft was a SW 737, and it felt much like the plane was attached to a string and a puppetmaster was ripping up and down on the string. The aircraft would suddenly drop down and felt like it hit a brick wall and there would be a resounding bang before it would jump back up. People were quiet and tense, and I saw the more religious in the group praying to whatever deity they believed would sustain them.
However, from what I've read about coffee on the ceiling, broken necks, people flying out of seats, etc., I'm not sure this would even have been described as severe turbulence.
Sevenair From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2001, 1728 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1543 times:
I believe severe turbulence involves a temporary loss of control, walking is very difficult, the meal service is impossible, passengers feel strain against their seatblts. Must get pretty bad as some people are killed by CAT.
EWRCabincrew From Canada, joined May 2006, 5347 posts, RR: 59 Reply 2, posted (3 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1532 times:
Per our (CO) inflight manual:
Severe Turbulence is
Turbulence that causes large abrupt changes in altitude/attitude:
1. In most cases, severe turbulence will be unanticipated
2. Unsecured items are tipped over or tossed about
3. Standing or walking is impossible without hold on to part of aircraft
4. Occupants are forced violently against seat belts
Turbulence that causes large abrupt changes in altitude/attitude:
1. In most cases, severe turbulence will be unanticipated
2. Unsecured items are tipped over or tossed about
3. Standing or walking is impossible without hold on to part of aircraft
4. Occupants are forced violently against seat belts
A very good reaon to be strapped in whenever you are seated.
The most annoying turbulence although not the worst was coming back to the UK from Antigua a few years ago, it was sufficiently bad for there to be no meal service on this transatlantic flight, and I was really hungry.
However the worst has been over the North Sea at low altitude in a Nimrod, a couple of hundred feet above the water in driving rain and heavy seas - now that was fun. Only thing was I had to make the coffee as a cadet in this as well.
Flown on A300B4/600,A319/20/21,A332/3,A343,B727,B732/3/4/7/8,B741/2/4,B752,B762/3,B772/3,DC10,L1011-200,VC10,MD80,1-11
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