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Surely you have experienced tension during a flight due to turbulence. These unexpected shocks cause uneasiness and, of course, fear that something more serious is about to happen. But can turbulence bring down a plane?
And why is there turbulence? First, by the instability of the air around the aircraft created by unstable atmospheric conditions, such as storms and cold fronts. As a result, the aircraft is subject to shaking, sudden movements and drops in altitude.
Although scary, turbulence in the sky is actually very common. So much so that planes were built to support them and keep passengers safe. However, we will see more about this below.
Types of turbulence in an airplane
In general, turbulence occurs due to jet streams, temperature differences, air currents, and wind changes.
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And no doubt you’ve felt various movements related to turbulence. That is, some lighter and others that literally made you jump in your chair. This is because there are different types of them, namely:
- Light: tremors that, being so gentle, can even go unnoticed and are very rapid;
- moderate: With an extension of up to 11 minutes, they are more noticeable turbulence, e.g. B. even when you shake your water in the glass. Usually the crew will tell you to put on your seat belt;
- difficult: undeniably the most feared, last about seven minutes. Long enough for the luggage compartments to open, for example, and for the passengers to feel an upward pressure. But don’t worry, they are not designed yet.
Such ratings are made by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the organization of airlines.
Can turbulence cause a plane to crash?
Ok, we already know what it is and what types of turbulence there are. But can she eventually crash a plane? First of all no, to the delight (and above all relief) of travelers! In fact, these bumps are far more annoying and uncomfortable than they are dangerous.
As mentioned earlier, airplanes are designed to withstand high force loads without crashing. In addition, the aircraft have enough structure to continue flying safely even in adverse weather conditions such as lightning and heavy rain.
However, there have been instances of greater turbulence, resulting in things like flight delays and even fatalities. This was the case on the 1997 flight between Narita and Honolulu. The turbulence caused a sudden fall of 300 meters and in addition to injured passengers, one of them died.
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But don’t despair! If you’re on a trip and experience turbulence during the flight, there are ways to ease the anxiety. First, sit near the wings, which are the plane’s center of gravity. The effects there are usually minor.
Also, take deep breaths and try to distract yourself, even if it’s difficult, by reading a book or listening to music. Next thing you know, the turbulence is over!
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