Bofredrik From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 3772 times:
One of my friends say that she was on a flight
between Miami and London when the service
from the cabin crew was suspended 8 hours,
almost the whole flight, due to severe turbulence.
She also say that it was especially nasty as
it was a overnight flight and dark outside.
Have you been on a flight with severe turbulence
for MANY hours?
MEA-707 From Netherlands, joined Nov 1999, 3394 posts, RR: 47 Reply 1, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 3750 times:
The way people see turbulence is different. tuesday on a Lufthansa 737 we had only very light chop on approach, and my neighbors later said " that severe turbulence scared the hell out of me"... You´d pray for them that they don´t get a flight ever with actual turbulence.
Maybe there wasnt too much service midflight to begin with and combined with the seatbelts signs on now and then, she presumed the turbulence was too bad.
But maybe indeed she had a bad flight.
nobody has ever died from hard work, but why take the risk?
UALFAson From United States, joined Mar 2004, 394 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 day ago) and read 3726 times:
The first time I flew back from NRT to LAX in March 2004, the seat belt sign went on about an hour into the flight and stayed on until just a few minutes before we landed. Although it wasn't severe turbulence, I agreed that it was bumpy enough that the seat belt sign needed to stay on. I was in the last row of a UA 747 and just shook and bounced for about 8-9 hours. It was nighttime too, which I think made it feel worse. The flight attendants were never able to complete the dinner service and sort of threw out breakfast and drinks right before we landed. I have never been so glad to land!
2009 so far: AMS, CUN, HNL, KOA, OGG, IAD, BOS, CLT, AUS, DEN, PHX, BUR, LAX, SFO
AAEXP From Brazil, joined Jul 2005, 31 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3467 times:
I am almost sure that is was not the case of "severe" turbulence for 8 hours, not even "moderate". It's more realistic to believe that is was a case of constant "light" turbulence (which by many, myself included) sometimes is regarded as "severe" . Just my 2 cents worth.....
S5FA170 From United States, joined Sep 2005, 534 posts, RR: 6 Reply 4, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 3440 times:
I don't work international trips - but I have worked flights where the captain has had us suspend cabin service and asked everyone (including FAs) to remain seated for up to three hours straight. Those are always fun flights.
"When are you going to be serving drinks?"
If only people payed attention to lighted signs and PA announcements. Life would be beautiful.
Glareskin From Netherlands, joined Jun 2005, 1142 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 3001 times:
Quoting UALFAson (Reply 2): the seat belt sign went on about an hour into the flight and stayed on until just a few minutes before we landed.
That is funny. Usually landing is the time that you should really start using your seat belt.
About this discussion. I don't think that a long flight in severe turbulence is possible. Pilots ask for alternate flight levels or flight paths even with moderate chops or longer light turbulence. So this is highly unlikely. I suspect
Quoting AAEXP (Reply 3): It's more realistic to believe that is was a case of constant "light" turbulence (which by many, myself included) sometimes is regarded as "severe" .
I found the following description on a site from the Australian government regarding safer air travel:
Different intensities of turbulence
Light turbulence - briefly causes slight, erratic changes in altitude and/or attitude.
Light chop - slight, rapid and somewhat rhythmic bumpiness without noticeable changes in altitude or attitude.
Moderate turbulence - similar to light turbulence, but greater intensity. Changes in altitude/attitude occur. Aircraft remains in control at all times. Variations in indicated air speed.
Moderate chop - similar to light chop, but greater intensity. Rapid bumps or jolts without obvious changes in altitude or attitude.
Severe turbulence - large, abrupt changes in altitude/attitude. Large variation in indicated airspeed. Aircraft may be temporarily out of control.
Extreme turbulence - aircraft is violently tossed about and is impossible to control. May cause structural damage.
The reactions inside aircraft vary from occupants feeling slight strain against their seat belts and unsecured items being slightly displaced, through to occupants being forced violently against seat-belts, and unsecured items being being tossed about. (Imagine what it would be like if you were not wearing a seat belt!)
There's still a long way to go before all the alliances deserve a star...
Chris133 From United States, joined Oct 2005, 303 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 2911 times:
Quoting Bofredrik (Thread starter): One of my friends say that she was on a flight
between Miami and London when the service
from the cabin crew was suspended 8 hours,
almost the whole flight, due to severe turbulence.
I doubt that it was sever at all. Of the many, many pilots i have talked with (myself included) most have never experienced severe turbulence. And, if they did most diverted pretty soon after because you don't want to fly in it. I personally have had some things start to float on me for a second or two but even that was probably moderate at the most.
Bearste From United States, joined Sep 2007, 8 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2723 times:
Quoting Glareskin (Reply 9): Severe turbulence - large, abrupt changes in altitude/attitude. Large variation in indicated airspeed. Aircraft may be temporarily out of control.
Exactly...I've been a major airline pilot for almost 10 years, with 10,000 hours of flight time, and have encountered "severe turbulence" twice...and it lasted no more than a minute...
CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 2497 times:
Hi!
The most severe turbulence I got was some good 30/45 minutes before I landed at BOG in a CO 737-700. Our Captain said that we were going to be pass a zone with some turbulence and I remember that our 737 shacked for a while and I was looking outside and from time to time the winglet of our 737-700 would iluminate like it was a bright day...that was the intensity of the lightnings..but nothing we couldn't handle it...the cockpit crew was very good and they did a great "attitude flying" trying has much has possible to avoid big bumps. Last June I was flying from CDG to FIH in a AF A332 and again we got some turbulence, but this time was around 10 minutes and our 332 behaved really well!
Regards
InnocuousFox From United States, joined Dec 2003, 2576 posts, RR: 25 Reply 13, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 2300 times:
I had about 2 hours of light to moderate turbulence on a UA 747 from DEN to SEA. We were catching some serious wave action over the mountains in Idaho. As it was UA, I was listening to the pilot and ATC try to find someplace decent, both in direction and altitude. Nothing there. It was a clear day in December, too, so it was all wave action.
Dave Mark - Intrinsic Algorithm - Reducing the world to mathematical equations!
Astuteman From United Kingdom (England), joined Jan 2005, 6190 posts, RR: 85 Reply 14, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 2187 times:
Quoting Glareskin (Reply 9): Moderate chop - similar to light chop, but greater intensity. Rapid bumps or jolts without obvious changes in altitude or attitude.
Rode a CO 757 from MAN - EWR many years ago now.
We encountered what I can only describe from your definitions as "severe chop" (if not necessarily "severe" turbulence) for the last 4 hours of the flight.
The flight deck crew described it as "clear-air" turbulence, and boy, was it clear. The East Canada coast looked absolutely spectacular - when I could keep it in focus...
My conclusion at the time was that it was jet-stream related.......
TUNisia From United States, joined Aug 2004, 1754 posts, RR: 8 Reply 15, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 2145 times:
Hmm... my "worst" turbulence experience was just recently on a SAS A340 from EWR-CPH. Just off the coast of Norway we hit some pretty rough air. I thought it was fun though! Best part were the few drops we had... weeee!
"Someday the sun is going to shine down on me in some faraway place." - Mahalia Jackson
HZ747300 From Hong Kong SAR, PRC, joined Mar 2004, 1442 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1233 times:
One of the worst experiences I had was in early December, 2000. LAX to SYD on United. The flight was violently turbulent for the first five hours of the flight. People were crying and gasping with the shaking and dipping. The pilot was awesome though, in terms of being honest and informative. He said that the air was bad at all levels and from the planes which left before us (we left LAX two hours late) we reporting that it was going to be pretty bad. He added that it will get worse before it gets better and reminded everyone that planes are designed to handle this sort of thing no matter how bad it became. He was right too, after that, it was hellish. Then finally shortly after passing Hawaii, it smoothed out.
Now, I live in Hong Kong. Nearly every departure will have the shakes, but nothing has come close the LAX-SYD flight I had.
Seabosdca From United States, joined Sep 2007, 1386 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1085 times:
Quoting Glareskin (Reply 9): Moderate chop - similar to light chop, but greater intensity. Rapid bumps or jolts without obvious changes in altitude or attitude.
I've experienced this through nearly the entire duration of a six-hour BOS-SEA flight on AS (T-storms all the way from BOS past ORD and then a brief break before we encountered violent air over the Rockies and Cascades). There was only one drink service and, between the lack of drinks and the constant throwing about of stuff, pax were getting pretty antsy. Flight crew were great, though -- they kept us informed, and let us know there was no good altitude (we went up and down between FL320 and FL400 over the course of the flight, to no beneficial effect).
Bad weather happens.
Most gorgeous aircraft: Tu-204-300, 757-200, A330-200, 777-200LR, 787-8
CEO@AFG From Norway, joined Jan 2001, 205 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1071 times:
I fly to SEA at least once a year, and a few years back I flew SAS CPH-SEA on an A340. As we entered Canadian airspace and right up to top of descent before landing in SEA we had persistant turbulence. Not to the point where it got really bad, so I suppose it would be defined as light turbulence with intermittent periods of medium chop. It was tiresome though as you're basically only halfway there as you enter Canada, I guess we had to endure 4-5 hours of turbulence.
"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue." Steven McCroskey, Airplane!
Phoenix9 From Canada, joined Aug 2007, 2130 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (2 years 2 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1032 times:
My worst (or rather fun!) experience was on a Delta flight from atlanta to san diego couple of years ago. We hit some bad air close to san diego and were tossed around for good 20-25 mins. It seemed like a roller coaster ride and I could hear the engines rev up and pilot was nice enough to give us a warning ahead of time!! Once it started there were screams all over the place...but you could also hear some kids shouting: AWESOME...DO IT AGAIN
Jimbobjoe From United States, joined Oct 2001, 522 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (2 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 765 times:
It's funny really, I'm one of several people on this board who loves aviation and flying, but is terrified of turbulence. After what was probably not an overall unusual altitude drop which I went through on an AA 727 from MIA-SJO, I never really was the same afterward, and haven't been able to fly without being on some sorta tranquilizer since.
I've entertained becoming a pilot however, my theory is that I would be a lot better if I were the person at the helm.
B747forever From United States, joined May 2007, 14251 posts, RR: 12 Reply 22, posted (2 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 755 times:
Back in the winter 2006 (31th December-1st January) I flew with BA from LAX to LHR. About 2/3 of the flight the seat belt sign was on. This was really funny because I just love when the aircraft shakes around. I always pray to god that it will be turbulent. I just love it.
Quoting Jimbobjoe (Reply 8): Isn't time of day a major factor in turbulence
Yes, turbulence at lower levels of the atmosphere tends to be diurnally related. That which occurs at levels above 12000 ft. or so is related to the dynamics of the atmosphere or mountainous terrain and not diurnally driven. At high levels, turbulence, not related to thunderstorms, is caused in several ways. 1. directional changes in wind flow (say 240 deg at FL350 to 280 deg at FL370) 2. Speed shears (75 kts at FL350 beside another flow at the same altitude or a close by altitude that is at 100 kts perhaps ) This shearing is what produces the waves in the atmosphere that your aircraft is skipping over, much as a speed boat skips over waves generated by a larger passing craft on the lake or river.
LY777 From France, joined Nov 2005, 1632 posts, RR: 3 Reply 24, posted (2 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 725 times:
As I sais on another topic, my most turbulent flight ever was on an AF A343 from MIA to CDG in April 1995. It was absolutely awful during two hours. After take off from MIA, there was some light turbulence but still it was OK. Then, the captain changed altitude, we flew at only 7700 meters, and the turbulence became more and more important, until we hit two severe chops, I thought the plane was going to crash, I fainted... My father, who is a doctor put my legs in the upright position and gave me some Coke...just awful!!! I wasn't the only one who felt bad, my sister and other people on the plane were crying, others thought the plane was just about to crash.
Since that day, I am really afraid of turbulence...
Bok269 From United States, joined May 2007, 2069 posts, RR: 0 Reply 25, posted (2 years 2 months 1 week 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 696 times:
As others have said, what people consider severe is very different from what the FAA does. It would likely have been unsafe to continue for 8 hours in severe turbulence. FAs are seated in various different levels of turbulence for different reasons. Ive been on WN into RNO (which is well known for its turbulence). It was definately more than I've ever experienced, but no more than maybe moderate. However, to the girl a few rows behind me who was in tears, that was severe.
This reminded me of a recent flight with HA into OGG. On approach, we hit a patch of light turbulence that remained for a couple of minutes. A few days later my friend and I were talking about the odds of an airplane crash, and she asked me (seriously) what our chances were of dying during the turbulence. She was surprised to learn that it wasn't a big deal. What can appear as severe to someone without aviation knowledge could be nothing to you and me.
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