How to Stay Calm During Turbulent Flight
Turbulence can range from annoying to downright frightening, and you don’t need to be an anxious pilot to get it worried. Turbulence is difficult to avoid while flying, but you can control it.
I contacted pilot Patrick Smith, CEO of Ask the Pilot , about turbulence in airplanes. He directed me to his article on the topic, which explains why you generally shouldn’t worry about turbulence:
From a pilot’s point of view, this is usually seen as a convenience issue rather than a safety issue. When the flight changes altitude in search of smoother conditions, it is mainly in the interest of comfort. Pilots are not worried about falling wings; they try to keep their clients relaxed and that everyone needs coffee. The aircraft themselves are designed to withstand significant loads and must meet stress limits for both positive and negative g-forces. The level of turbulence required to displace an engine or bend a wing spar is something that even the most frequent flyer – or pilot for that matter – won’t experience in a lifetime.
If you can see them from your seat, you can also see how the flight crew reacts to turbulence. If they are calm about it, you probably have nothing to worry about, even if it seems serious.
Prepare your place
When buying your ticket, try to be seated closer to the center of the plane , behind the scenes if possible. There will be less turbulence in this part of the aircraft. Once you are seated in your seat, adjust it to cope with any turbulence during the flight.
- Entertainment : There are things that distract you within reach. Maybe it’s a book you can’t put off, your favorite movie or TV show, or soothing music.
- Barf Bag : You probably won’t need it, but if you need it, you’ll be glad you have it. You may already have one in your seat, but if not, ask a crew member when boarding or bring your own (make sure it holds fluids).
- Comfortable items : soft blankets, a neck pillow, your favorite hooded sweatshirt or slippers can all go a long way in helping you relax and be more calm when turbulence occurs.
There are ways to relax
When turbulence does occur, it is helpful to have a couple of techniques to calm yourself down until it goes away.
- Breathing exercises : If you are doing yoga or meditation, you may already have a breathing exercise that is right for you. If you don’t, try one that focuses on inhaling for four seconds and exhaling for eight seconds.
- Reduced Vibration : You may find that lifting your feet off the floor can reduce the amount of vibration you feel from turbulence.
- Go with the flow : Instead of tense, focus on relaxing your muscles so you move with the turbulence, not against it. It can be tricky to do, but it also gives you a reason to think.
You can also remind yourself that other modes of transport are often more bumpy than air turbulence – we are so used to them that we do not realize it. Think about how often you switch because of bumps in the road, when driving or cycling, or how often you are rocked back and forth in the subway.