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I started my PPL a month ago and my first flying experience on a cessna 152 was not what I expected. We've experienced some turbulence and I was not very confortable with it. Of course, I loved to look outside and all the flying etc, but not the turbulence. As I looked at the pilot, it seemed I was the only one feeling the bumps. He was so calm and relaxed, flying the plane, monitoring the instruments and speaking with the tower that I was puzzeled...Is it normal for me to feel this way? As the plane went up and down and shaked from left to right, all I could focus on was finding something to old on with and waited until it stoped, but the pilot kept still like nothing was happening! How can you "think" with all that shaking arround? I am worried because I felt a bit anxious, palm sweating, and I do not want to blow the oportunity because of this. Is that something you learn how to control with several flights, or it just comes natural? Do airliner pilots have or had this problem? I really want to become a Comercial pilot in the future but I need some advice about how to get over this problem.
Experience is the first answer, the second answer is education.
Over time and exposure you will learn to work through turbulence. I fly part 121 for a regional airline and yes I do notice turbulence but only as a minor inconvenience and something that spills my soda. You just continue to do your job as the pilot because one thing the plane wont do in turbulence is fly itself while you are hanging on for dear life.
Now the education part. Learn all that you can in regards to turbulence, what causes it, different intesities, the effects it has on the airplane etc. Most training airplanes are certified to around positive 3.8 times the force of gravity to zero to minus 1. Educate yourself on the maneuvering speed of the airplane (Va) as this is the speed you will want to slow to in the event of any turbulence above moderate level.
The airplane can handle quite a bit of turbulence and you will learn that in time. Google is your friend, educate and then fly.
You will get over being nervous in turbulence. In fact, given time you will begin to enjoy it because it adds a new and different challenge to flying. Can you hold your altitude or heading dead on during turbulence? Or can you shoot your instrument approach like Chuck Yeager during turbulence?
Keep going up, but take small steps. Don't try and jump into turbulence that a jet is reporting as moderate. Your instructor will be aware of when is for sure 100% to bumpy to fly. If you find you are having a hard time with bumps after a few lessons try to fly early in the morning and slowly work your way up to the afternoon bumps.
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It'll take your mind and body awhile to adjust to your newfound 3-D environment. I'd say most folks get a little quesy when they first start out and get hit with hot and bouncy days. It's definately a part of it, but to help out try and schedule morning flights when the convective heating hasn't started yet. Anywhere up until 10am usually works best.
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You do become accustomed to smaller bumps inherent in flying airplanes. The first time I took my parents up, they commented on how bumpy it was. Although we had flown on a pretty smooth day, they noticed small shifts and movement that didn't bother me after 400 hours of flying.
When you encounter turbulence in the future, try to concentrate on flying and less on the bouncing. It takes practice, but you will be able to fly through more challenging situations.
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Might want to try and fly a little heavier airplane and like others said it will become a normal feeling and can only help you with your flying ability by making it a challenge. After some bumpy approaches to landing a few times. A smooth day landing will be much better and smoother then before.
You definately will get over the bumps. Learned in the cessna, and lately in a seminole. Bumped my head a few times. It grows on you as a challange. Did a full IMC approach inbetween some cells. Lucky, but definately hardened me. Bumped me all over the place, gave the yoke a death grip. But after a few minutes after you have slowed down the plane, and analyzed the situation you begin to realize that is why we train so hard. To deal with the situations that your passangers might look at and show you what they had for lunch.
You will most definitely get used to it as time goes by. I was never really bothered by turbulence but in the AZ summer I have to admit I sent some ramen noodles out of the small left seat door more than once. Your body acclimates and you get to the point, as the Marine said, where it becomes just an annoyance that spills your soda. Flying the Dash-8 I got so used to it that on smooth days I was bored to tears. Keep at it and good luck!!!
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"Everyone wants the bigtime, nobody wants to work for it."
What your experiencing is very normal. As you fly it'll be less and less. After you solo and are feeling pretty comfortable ask your CFI to bring you up in a C-152 and take you through some spins. Mine did that to me early on in my training and said "ok, this is the worst thing that ever could happen to you" And as it turns out they are a blast and I went for an aerobatics ride shortly there after.
Soon flying through turbulence you'll have the seat reclined and just be annoyed that you can't hold altititude or heading.
Turbulence And Anxiety
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