How to deal with turbulence on a plane?

Surely everyone has experienced the feeling of anxiety, even panic, when the plane suddenly encountered turbulence overhead. While flying at 37,000 feet, strong vibrations and loud noises can make anyone feel confused and worried.

For many people, traveling by plane is often associated with feelings of nervousness and anxiety, especially when encountering air turbulence . The plane wobbled and shook strongly, causing many passengers to panic and even think about the worst scenario.

However, according to aviation experts, turbulence is a common phenomenon and rarely causes danger. So, what should passengers do to stay calm and get through these "heart-stopping" moments?

Turbulence is a normal phenomenon.

Understand turbulence

Airbus' report in February 2022 points out that turbulence can come from many causes, including:

• Change in air density: When an aircraft flies through an area with different air density, the sudden change in pressure will lead to shaking.
• Jet streams: These are streams of air moving at high speeds, which can cause turbulence as aircraft fly past.
• Terrain: Flying over mountainous areas or tall buildings can also cause wind flow to change suddenly, leading to turbulence.

It is important to remember that turbulence does not affect the structure or handling of the aircraft . It is simply a change in the airflow through which the aircraft moves.

Keep calm

When encountering turbulence, the most important thing is for passengers to stay calm and follow the flight attendant's instructions. Panic, screaming or sudden movements can make the situation more chaotic and pose a potential risk of accident.

Seatbelt

Always make sure your seat belt is fastened throughout the flight, especially when encountering turbulence. Seat belts are the most effective protection measure to help limit the risk of injury from strong impacts.

Always wear your seat belt.

According to Airbus, the European aviation group, wearing seat belts is the most effective measure to prevent injuries when the plane encounters turbulence. This is important advice for passengers to ensure the safety of themselves and those around them during the flight.

When encountering turbulence, the plane can shake strongly and change altitude suddenly. Wearing a seat belt will help keep you firmly in your seat, limiting the risk of hitting objects on the plane or being thrown out of your seat. Seat belts are designed to disperse impact forces in the event of a collision, helping to protect the body from serious injury.

Focus on your breathing

When you encounter turbulence and feel yourself starting to panic, controlling your breathing is a great way to calm yourself down and prevent your anxiety from escalating.

According to therapists, the following deep breathing exercise can help stimulate the vagus nerve, thereby activating the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) - the system responsible for keeping your body in a good state. Calm and relaxing state:

Doing:

• Inhale deeply through your nose: Let your diaphragm expand out into your abdomen as you inhale.
• Hold your breath for a few seconds: Focus on the feeling of your breath in your body.
• Exhale slowly through your mouth : Allow the breath to escape naturally.
• Make sure to exhale twice as long as you inhale: This helps you relax more effectively.
• Repeat: Continue doing the deep breathing exercise for a few minutes until you feel calmer.

Avoid looking out the window, listen to the crew

Looking at the strong movements of the plane and the gray sky can make you more scared. Instead, focus on other things like reading a book, listening to music or chatting with the person next to you.

While trying to dispel worries and focus on other things, it is important for passengers to pay close attention to announcements from pilots and flight attendants. They will provide updates on the turbulence, its severity and necessary safety measures.

To easily identify the level of turbulence, airlines apply a scale divided into three levels based on the impact on the flight trajectory and the feelings of passengers in the cabin. Using this common terminology helps the flight crew and flight crew to have the same understanding of the expected level of turbulence, thereby coordinating smoothly to take appropriate remedial measures.

Specifically, when encountering light turbulence, the crew will notify passengers by loudspeaker about the level of turbulence and necessary safety measures. If turbulence is moderate or severe, the crew will instruct passengers to perform specific actions such as bowing their heads, tightening seat belts,.

Thanks to an effective communication system, passengers will be provided with all the necessary information and instructions, helping them stay calm and comply with safety regulations throughout the flight. Therefore, passengers should pay attention to announcements from the flight crew and follow instructions to ensure the safety of themselves and those around them.

Trust the crew

Well-trained and experienced, pilots possess the ability to safely control aircraft in bad weather conditions, including turbulence. They practice the ability to recognize warning signs of turbulence, predict the level and when it will occur, and take appropriate measures.

In case of turbulence, the pilot will perform flexible control operations to keep the aircraft stable, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew. Skills in handling situations quickly and accurately are the key factors that help them neutralize dangers and bring the flight to the destination safely.

In addition, automatic pilot assistance devices also contribute to improving flight safety. This system can automatically adjust the aircraft's flight direction and altitude to maintain a stable state, helping pilots focus on handling complex situations.

Remember that turbulence is only temporary

Turbulence usually lasts only a few minutes and will end when the plane clears the area of ​​bad weather. Once everything is back to normal, the flight attendant will notify passengers.

According to aviation experts, "many people worry about turbulence because they think it could cause the plane to crash. However, in reality, even the most severe turbulence rarely causes an accident." plane".

The last time turbulence was identified as a major cause of plane crashes was in 1966, more than 50 years ago. Since then, modern engineering and advanced technology have helped pilots predict and avoid turbulence more effectively.

In addition, the improved design of modern aircraft also makes them better handling and less affected by turbulence than previous generations of aircraft.

Is there any type of aircraft that is "immune" to turbulence?

According to aviation experts, there are no specific rules or data that prove that one model of aircraft is better than another at handling turbulence. Size is just one influencing factor, along with many other factors such as aerodynamic design, control system, aircraft weight, etc.

In general, aircraft with large planes are better able to absorb turbulence. For example, the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747 are considered two of the aircraft best at handling turbulence due to their enormous size.

However, this does not mean that large aircraft always handle turbulence better. For example, some early Boeing 757 models - once among the largest aircraft used for short-haul flights - have a history of being susceptible to turbulence.

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), on average, only about 33 cases of injury due to turbulence on flights in the US were recorded each year in the period from 2002 to 2018. This number shows the risk of The risk of accidents due to turbulence is extremely low.