11 April 2024 , 13:17
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A pilot has explained exactly why you shouldn't be scared of turbulence to put your mind at ease on your next flight.
Going on holiday is often an exciting experience, but for some travellers there is a lot of anxiety around going on a plane.
Most flyers will have experienced turbulence on occasion. It can cause the aircraft to shake around and can be quite uncomfortable and frightening. Sometimes it can last for a couple of minutes, other times it may happen several times during a flight.
However, a pilot, who works for KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is reassuring passengers that there is no need to panic. Taking to the airline's TikTok page, he explained in detail exactly what happens during turbulence.
He said: "This is why you should not be scared of turbulence. Turbulence is caused by changes of the flow of air around the aeroplane. As the aeroplane flies it's encountering different air masses with varying temperatures, with wind speeds and directions.
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"These air masses lead to different pockets of densities leading to turbulence. When the aeroplane flies through these pockets it can experience certain bumps and shakes. And although it can be uncomfortable, modern planes are designed to withstand it safely."
He added: "Pilots and cabin crew are, of course, trained for turbulence to assure everyone's safety on board. Remember, turbulence is a natural part of flying and it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with the plane."
He concluded: "So, next time you're on a plane and you encounter turbulence, stay calm and enjoy the rest of your journey."
An aerospace engineer commented on the video and said: "As an aerospace engineer, I can 100% confirm your plane is incredibly unlikely to be damaged by turbulence. We take into account a lot of safety factors."
One individual added: "Every pilot I have ever known my whole life could not explain this to its passengers. Thank you." One other wrote: "Very helpful. Thank you so much for the science and understanding!"
"Thank you, I'm flying out on Friday it's reassuring," said another.
But a number of people expressed their worries regarding turbulence. One said: "I'm not scarred of turbulence. I'm just scared of the parts ripping apart on due the movement."
Another added: "I'll never be OK with turbulence, I literally have panic attacks." Another suggested: "I wish more pilots would get on the speaker system and say this turbulence is only going to last for about a few minutes, or within 15 minutes we should be clear of this - rather than just let us sit."
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