7 things to do during airplane turbulence
Air turbulence is an experience all too familiar to air travellers. The plane is going on well for one minute. The next thing, there is a bump here and a shake there, as the plane quakes in all directions.
Although turbulence is a common part of air travel, it is less unpleasant. In fact, considerable research has shown that turbulence is one of the biggest causes of flight anxiety, as many passengers take it as a sign the plane is going down.
Turbulence can be frightening. However, the reality, according to flight experts, is that it is no cause for concern.
It’s a common part of flying that many people experience regularly. Even when it’s most severe, according to experts, turbulence is rarely dangerous although when severe, it may cause injuries to passengers and cabin crew.
Recently, an Air Peace flight from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to Lagos State, experienced turbulence on a Monday afternoon.
A rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who was aboard the plane and shared his experience on the flight, narrated how passengers prayed and called on the pilot.
Sharing a video from the episode, he wrote, “The funniest part of the turbulence in our Air Peace Uyo-Lagos flight this afternoon was when some passengers shouted and referred to the captain as ‘driver’.
“Someone screamed, ‘Driver, what is going on?’ Another passenger kept calling on ‘the God of Bishop David Oyedepo (General Overseer of Living Faith Church Worldwide’.
“The truth is that most of us onboard were worried or scared, even those of us who tried to be calm were agitated at some point when it appeared as if things were going out of control. It was really terrible.
“It is easy to laugh at those screaming, but pray you don’t experience this degree of turbulence,” he said.
Even as a frequent flyer, Effiong noted that the episode was scary.
Another flier, who shared his experience on a popular forum, Nairaland, noted that the weather on that day was particularly terrible, as the source said the flight from Abuja to Yola, the Adamawa State capital, also had the same issue.
“It was the exact experience on the Abuja-Yola flight that we almost crash landed. And while we were narrating our experience on Twitter, people who were on a Sokoto bound plane from Abuja all said they experienced the same thing that they thought it was their last day,” the source said.
An expert pilot, Robert Graef, in an Airbus publication, noted that flyers had to be calm during turbulence so as not to increase anxiety.
Know that planes withstand turbulence
Proffering steps to take during turbulence, a safety professional, Bernard Okolo, in an interview with our correspondent, said passengers should focus more on the fact that airplanes are built to withstand turbulence.
“First and foremost, [passengers] understand that the airplane is designed to fly through turbulence.
“Nothing is wrong with the aircraft. Pilots are highly trained professionals and know how to expertly handle turbulence. There are various reasons turbulence occurs: wind, changes in air temperature, thunderstorms, etcetera,” he stated.
A flight attendant with Ibom Air, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of her company’s policy, said she believed that the best way to tackle fear was to understand it.
According to her, learning about the science of turbulence can put anxious passengers at ease.
She noted in an emailed response, “Air turbulence is a common occurrence. Focus on facts to avoid escalating into a state of worry.
“It is a helpful technique to decrease travellers’ anxiety by helping them understand the effects of turbulence.
“In most instances, turbulence appears more detrimental than it may seem. The industry should communicate the rhetoric that ‘turbulence should be expected as opposed to dreaded.’”
Practise meditation and deep breathing
Okolo noted that practising breathing exercises would help during air turbulence.
“Meditate or take a deep breath to help slow your breathing,” she advised, adding that short meditations could help passengers feel more mindful and comfortable during a flight.
An Ecuador-based flight attendant with Eastern Airlines, Doménica Jiménez, in an Airbus report, stated that a tip that helped in her career in the skies was slow breathing.
“Being mindful of my breathing by slowing inhaling and exhaling has been a game changer. It helps me to stay calm during turbulence and also do my job,” she added.
An American meditation company, Headspace, has partnered a number of air carriers; including JetBlue Airways and United Airlines, to provide in-flight guided relaxation.
Find distractions
The flight attendant from Ibom Air said, “Take advantage of the time you have during the flight to read a book, listen to music, or make that to-do list.
“Explore the movies and shows on your seatback screen or download your own entertainment before the flight. If you’re travelling with a companion, talk to them about something unrelated to the flight. The idea is to keep your brain focused.”
