One of your best articles yet, Nick. Many thanks for this.
I hate turbulence with a passion, the same way I hate roller coasters. As soon as it starts I get this bizarre cold sweat on the soles of my feet. Go figure.
My stomach always needs to feel that it's at the bottom of my torso, not around my ears. I never worry about crashing or failure, I just can't get on with the sensation.
At the end of the day, I've learned to tough it out (because you can't exactly ask to get off) and I only get "worried" if I see the cabin crew buckle up. Then we are in for a bit of a ride.
What you describe is actually very common. Turbulence triggers the same physical response as a roller coaster because your inner ear senses the vertical motion, even though the airplane itself is perfectly safe and well within its limits.
From the cockpit, it almost always looks far less dramatic than it feels in the cabin. Most of the time we’re simply adjusting speed and altitude to make it smoother.
And you’re absolutely right about one thing: if the cabin crew sits down, it usually just means it might get a bit bumpy, not that anything dangerous is happening.
Thanks 🙏🏻 again for being a captain member, reading and sharing your experience, comments like yours help other nervous flyers realize they’re not alone. ✈️
Very insightful piece which provides us with some reassurance.
I was on a plane going across the Atlantic years ago and dinner trays were flying onto the aisle, with some women crying. Was on another flight where the turbulence was so bad a passenger across the aisle was vomiting their head off multiple times asking for second sick bags from cabin crew. Was on another flight with such turbulence that a single female passenger asked to hold my hand while the plane shaked violently… but seriously good to know you lads in the cockpit are cool as cucumbers talking about what you’ll have for dinner on arrival. Lol
One of your best articles yet, Nick. Many thanks for this.
I hate turbulence with a passion, the same way I hate roller coasters. As soon as it starts I get this bizarre cold sweat on the soles of my feet. Go figure.
My stomach always needs to feel that it's at the bottom of my torso, not around my ears. I never worry about crashing or failure, I just can't get on with the sensation.
At the end of the day, I've learned to tough it out (because you can't exactly ask to get off) and I only get "worried" if I see the cabin crew buckle up. Then we are in for a bit of a ride.
Nigel, thank you that really means a lot.
What you describe is actually very common. Turbulence triggers the same physical response as a roller coaster because your inner ear senses the vertical motion, even though the airplane itself is perfectly safe and well within its limits.
From the cockpit, it almost always looks far less dramatic than it feels in the cabin. Most of the time we’re simply adjusting speed and altitude to make it smoother.
And you’re absolutely right about one thing: if the cabin crew sits down, it usually just means it might get a bit bumpy, not that anything dangerous is happening.
Thanks 🙏🏻 again for being a captain member, reading and sharing your experience, comments like yours help other nervous flyers realize they’re not alone. ✈️
Very insightful piece which provides us with some reassurance.
I was on a plane going across the Atlantic years ago and dinner trays were flying onto the aisle, with some women crying. Was on another flight where the turbulence was so bad a passenger across the aisle was vomiting their head off multiple times asking for second sick bags from cabin crew. Was on another flight with such turbulence that a single female passenger asked to hold my hand while the plane shaked violently… but seriously good to know you lads in the cockpit are cool as cucumbers talking about what you’ll have for dinner on arrival. Lol
Cheers