How much turbulence can an airplane handle before you're in...uh...."trouble"?

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally posted by lauralaylin
This thread is so great for me because I feel like such a freak for being scared. I used to fly all the time without a problem, but now I cannot get on a plane. This started before 9-11 too. It's annoying because I have to drive or take a train to go everywhere, and I'm skipping a trip to CA this summer because it's too far for the train, and I just can't get myself onto a plane. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one afraid. If I get the courage, I'm going to start dealing with this soon. My doctor suggested going to relaxation courses so I can control my fears leading up to the flight, and then just taking valium the night before and during the flight. Has anyone taken valium before to relax them?

I am glad to see that I am not the only person either. I too, you used to be ok flying and are now SCARED TO DEATH - at it was before 9/11.

I must have seen said program too *lol* becasue since about 95, in order to step on a plane, I MUST have a valium (I've upgraded to Xanax now ). I have even skipped on things due to the fact that the flight was 4 hours.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by swissmiss04
I honestly have no idea why people are so scared. The odds of a fatal airline crash are definitely in the traveler's favor. Much more so than driving.

Okay, I realize that the chances of being in a car accident in your life are pretty high vs. an air accident. Simple reason: more cars on the road, we ride in cars more often in our day to day lives, etc. Great. Understood.

That may be, but if you are in a car crash, you will likely survive if you are wearing your seat belt. (don't know where people get the idea of getting thrown clear is a good idea....umm..there's a glass windshield in the way...shakes head....

If you are in plane crash....well, if the plane is in pieces, chances are that you will be too.

Discuss....

[swissmiss04]

Good point Cutiepie, but...think of all the security measures taken for airplanes vs. cars. Maybe it's because I've been in 3 accidents in cars, but I feel so much safer flying. But yeah, the thought of falling a few miles down to the ground does give me the willies.

[xok85xo]

Originally posted by ariesrising
This really helped me to put turbulence in understandable terms.

Think of air like the roads we drive. Some are smooth new asphalt, some are old loud roads, some are dirt lanes, some are bumpy and full of potholes. Same with the air you fly through. When you drive on a bumpy road, you don't lose control of your car that easily...and pilots are the same way with their aircraft.

you know, i've tried to tell myself this exact thing..and it calms me momentarily..then i remember that when you don't drive at 30,000 feet and if you lost control hitting a pothole you wouldn't fall out of the sky.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by Rudey
I bet you're one of those guys that always nudges me and wants to talk on flights.
-Rudey

Wrong. Generally don't speak on plane unless spoken to. Always have a book to read.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Wrong. Generally don't speak on plane unless spoken to. Always have a book to read.

I bet you're that one guy who can never get a grip on his drink and spills all over himself and just enough on the person next to him to ruin his flight.

-Rudey
--You are him!

[AlphaSigOU]

In case you guys were wondering, here's my routine for every takeoff and landing:

If you're in the window seat, you can estimate a good guess of the takeoff roll just by looking out the window. As the aircraft speeds down the runway, note the large numeral signs on the edge, usually on the left side. (Not the ones painted on the runway - that's the runway heading!) Each one is placed 1000 feet apart and tells the captain at a glance how many feet remain to the end of the runway. Most aircraft will lift off the ground using only about half the distance of the runway or less.

Pilots during takeoff recite these mandatory calls during the takeoff roll:

'80 knots' - The minimum speed at which the flight controls become effective; nosewheel steering deactivates.

'V-one' - The decision speed. Beyond this point, the aircraft must take off, since there's not enough runway left to stop.

'Rotate' - The aircraft begins to raise the nose and take flight.

'Positive rate, gear up' - Once a positive rate of climb is established, the landing gear is raised and climb speed is established.

Another good way to check distances is by looking at the runway markings - each one is placed 500 feet apart. The solid rectangular block is called the touchdown point, and is the desired place for aircraft to land.

And I'm also a certifiable airplane geek - I log my flights in a pilot's logbook!

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Pilots during takeoff recite these mandatory calls during the takeoff roll

I've never been on an aircraft and heard the pilot say any of that stuff. Every takeoff that I've experienced has been done in (relative) silence.

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by CutiePie2000

I've never been on an aircraft and heard the pilot say any of that stuff. Every takeoff that I've experienced has been done in (relative) silence.

My bad... shoulda been a little clearer. You'll only hear those calls inside the flight deck, not in the cabin. Or if you happen to be sitting next to me...

If you fly on United Airlines, audio channel 9 in the inflight entertainment system usually carries air-to-ground radio transmissions between the cockpit and air traffic control. However, this is turned on only at the captain's discretion. Most usually do leave Channel 9 on.

Memorable experience on United... three years ago, coming back from a business trip, the flight home from Denver to Tulsa was on a very stormy night; severe thunderstorms pounded Tulsa International Airport. I listened on Channel 9 as the flight crew and ATC worked their way around the line of storms. The ILS (Instrument Landing System) for Runway 18L at Tulsa was knocked out by a lightning strike, forcing the plane to land on the much shorter and seldom-used-by-airliners Runway 18R. Tulsa Tower had to give the flight crew directions to the terminal, since it's a longer taxi from 18R to the United gates.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
If you fly on United Airlines, audio channel 9 in the inflight entertainment system usually carries air-to-ground radio transmissions between the cockpit and air traffic control. However, this is turned on only at the captain's discretion. Most usually do leave Channel 9 on.

Ah yes, but they usually don't start forking out the headsets until AFTER takeoff.

And even you had your own headset, you are told to remove your headset during takeoff....

but I suppose if you have a headset of your own and are naughty and put it on AFTER the stewardess has sat down for takeoff, what can they really do?

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by Rudey
I bet you're that one guy who can never get a grip on his drink and spills all over himself and just enough on the person next to him to ruin his flight.

-Rudey
--You are him!

Actually, I have done that. But only one time. And I was sitting alone on that flight.

ETA, regarding the United Channel 9 ATC audio, we were landing in Denver in a blizzard many years ago, and I listened all the way in, until just before touchdown, the controller was saying to the pilot, "And the breaking action on the runway is....(click).

The Captian switched off the audio at that point.

Also, departing Denver on a Continental flight, the flight crew aborted the takeoff -- explaining some instruments weren't reading correctly and they were going to taxi on the active runway back to the terminal -- then took off without any further information. That was encouraging.

Well, flying to Miami tomorrow....

[TigerLilly]

I listened to the radio from the cockpit on the way over here to Germany, which was interesting. But then, once in Germany when we were on our descent, I couldn't find it! Do you know, AlphaSigOU, if they also play it overseas (and I just couldn't find it)?
For everyone who said they were scared to fly, I've heard that statistically you're more likely to get struck by lightening...TWICE...than you are to die in a plane crash.
But you know what really annoys me? When airlines have started charging you to use those headphones on the plane! We pay enough as it is, next they're going to start charging us extra for the little cocktail peanuts!

[AlphaSigOU]

Don't know if they do on overseas flights, though. It's also possible they may shut it down when below 10,000 feet to comply with the 'sterile cockpit' rule - no idle chatter other than what's necessary for conducting the flight.

It's usually pretty boring radio-wise once you enter the Atlantic or Pacific; other than the required position report check-in at certain points in the crossing.

[mmcat]

the question is...would you get involved if something went wrong on a flight? i think after 9-11 a lot of folks are now thinking they would. over the holidays i had occasion to fly and chatted with a couple of flight attendants -- and they certainly said they would be more aggressive if someone tried to take over the plane. i admitted that i would too.

[TigerLilly]

Originally posted by mmcat
the question is...would you get involved if something went wrong on a flight? i think after 9-11 a lot of folks are now thinking they would. over the holidays i had occasion to fly and chatted with a couple of flight attendants -- and they certainly said they would be more aggressive if someone tried to take over the plane. i admitted that i would too.

After 9/11, I think people realized that if terrorists succeed in taking over your plane and fly it where they want it to go, chances are pretty high that you're going to die anyway, crashing into something. At that point, you have nothing to lose by trying to do something. Fighting with the terrorists, at least you have a chance of living.