Plane Answers: When are pilots afraid of turbulence?
Welcome to Plane Answers where our resident airline pilot, Kent Wien, answers your questions about everything from takeoff to touchdown and beyond. Have a question of your own? Ask away!Kyle writes:
First of all, thanks for taking the time to respond to people's questions. There's something I've always wanted to know. Do pilots ever get scared of turbulence? If so, what makes them bad enough to actually be scary. Is there a way a passenger can know when to be concerned and when it's just normal bumps and shakes?
Thanks, Kyle.
Turbulence is more annoying than frightening, usually. But I think it's more upsetting for passengers than some pilots realize.
I learned a good lesson when flying as a passenger some years ago. I was sitting next to a really nice lady who had previously worked as an agent for another airline. She had obviously flown a great deal, but she startled me when she grabbed my arm as soon as the airplane hit the slightest bit of light chop (pilot-speak for small rhythmic bumps). She said to me, "If the pilots would just ACKNOWLEDGE this turbulence--if they would just say something, I'd feel so much better."
That moment stuck with me. As a co-pilot, it's not really my place to make reassuring PAs--that's up to the captain--but I will do my best when I move to the left seat.
Turbulence becomes worrisome to a pilot when it could cause harm to our flight attendants or passengers who aren't buckled in. That's our biggest concern. I'm very confident that the airplane will hold up to the roughest of air, but we just don't want anyone to get hurt. Take a look at this Boeing video showing the maximum inflight load the 777 will take before failing. The wing finally failed at 154% of the maximum rated load. The video that follows after the jump has to give you confidence in today's airliners.


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