Who said flying was always comfortable? Sometimes it is a challenge to keep your coffee down. Turbulence may be virtually harmless, but it does require a joint effort from passengers and crew to keep it that way. Also in the coming summer season, when we can expect dynamic weather conditions again.
When moist warm and dry cold air meet, cloud formation, precipitation and turbulence occur. In addition, there are at high altitudes jet streams jet streams with wind speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour. Due to cloud formation and jet streams Turbulence can occur at varying heights.
It can become turbulent, especially above the Pyrenees, on the border between Spain and southern France. This phenomenon reaches a peak between the months of July and October. Then it is up to the pilots to make an – understandable – Public Announcement to do. Unfortunately, the latter sometimes leaves much to be desired, causing some passengers to take unexpected actions in ignorance.
On my last overnight flight from Frankfurt to Palma de Mallorca we reached our optimal flight altitude of 38,000 feet (about twelve kilometers) without incident. After a while we passed through French airspace. The first ominous clouds loomed. Gusts of light turbulence became more frequent, alternating with heavier gusts of wind.
Above Marseille we had to be extra careful because we were going to start the descent. The cumulus clouds had the upper hand at that moment, which made it quite difficult to maneuver. Fortunately, there is a weather radar on board as a sixth sense to fly past the largest cloud formations. Not a bad idea for the captain to activate the ‘fasten seat belts’ message early on.
Unfortunately, even the most seasoned cabin crew could not prevent some passengers from not paying attention Public Announcement and in the meantime even got up! Once on the ground, it became clear to us that a number of people’s stomach contents were no match for the capriciousness of Mother Nature.
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Tags: Turbulence Pyrenees Column
