Turbulence
 

hi everyone,

i have a problem. I am working on the instrument rating and plan to fly professionally someday. i love to fly and have always been interested in aviation. my problem is turbulence. it scares the sh*t out of me. i feel very uncomfortable when in the bumps. i feel like i am going to lose control of the plane... and that really bothers me. i was in reported "moderate turbulence" today and am really considering throwing in the towel after freaking out about today's flight. I don't see how i can progress to the airlines if i cant handle turbulence. i know it takes severe or extreme turbulence to actually damage an airplane, but when i am up there in moderate or light i still worry. I am curious to see if anybody has had this problem and if so how can i get over it?

Thanks for your help!

Moderate depends on the kind of plane you fly. Moderate in a 737 is not moderate in a trainer. But if you've been reading an Airmet, you'll be in for some bumps with maybe a couple that will keep you on your toes. Best advice, take an instructor and fly in it. Learn to handle the plane and you'll be fine.

I once hated flying in turbulence like you. Now I actually like to fly in it. The best thing you can do is slow down and focus on maintaining altitude. Try to relax, tighten your seat belt, get some air blowing on your face, and try to have some fun with it. Don't go up in moderate until you are comfortable with light.

I too was in the same place as you not too long ago - I dont know where you are doing your training at but for me it was the Arizona desert. Turbulence and heat were a nasty combination, and you're absolutely right it can get scary at times.

When things start flying around the cabin in a Cessna, your head is hitting the roof, and you have to request block altitudes thats no fun for anyone (even experienced pilots). What I'm trying to say is that you really shouldn't be too put off by this, its normal to be disturbed by turbulence.

When you get to the regional/major level I think you'll find that very rarely do you ever have to 'just deal with it'. Most of the time we find smoother conditions, and as the other posters pointed out the bumps in general are much less aggrivating in larger aircraft.

Actually you should concentrate on maintaining ATTITUDE, as in wings level. You should never fight the pitch (and yaw if applicable) when encountering turbulance. Of course you should correct back to correct pitch and or altitude when able, but NEVER fight the aircraft, thats what causes most of the structural damage, especially when you end up over/under G loading the A/C with abrupt pitch inputs. Roll control on the other hand, has no G limits, so you can correct as nessessary without damaging the A/C (assuming you are flying less than Manuevering Speed, which you should be if you expect turbulance).

As far as getting over it, I imagine it would be somewhat like getting over airsickness in general....the more you fly, the more you get used to it.

Turbulence is like crosswind landings. At first they are uncomfortable and scary because you don't have the necessary control of the airplane yet. The only way to get comfortable is to fly in it. Fly on bumpy days. When available, request the crosswind runway (with an instructor, of course). The more you do it, and the more you do it successfully, the less stressful and more natural it will become. We've all been there.

thx for the replies guys! i feel much better about it. i am just glad im not the only one who has had this problem.

The goal is to learn to avoid turbulence and that's key when you have paying passengers in the back. In the meantime, I know it's a bit unsettling.

You can think of turbulence as a ripple in a pond, a wave in the ocean, or wind induced chop on a lake. Now think about speeding across any of those in a powerboat. The bigger the boat, the less you notice. Big or small, you might not be as concerned about the boat coming apart as you are about it capsizing.

Carry the boat analogy over to an airplane, while the ride can be downright uncomfortable, it's rare turbulence that strong enough to make parts fall off. So the key is to keep the airplane from "capsizing", or allowing an unusual attitude to develop (It's easier to do this if you don't have a death grip on the yoke). Try to relax and remember that:

• As long as you maintain a fairly wings level attitude,
• avoid pulling and G's if you do find yourself in a bank
• and fly at or below the POH airspeed for turbulence

Then the engineers who designed the aircraft structure have you covered. Your airplane might be a lot stronger than you think!

Thinking of turbulence in terms of the boat/wave example might help you visualize (and rationalize) what's happening to the airplane. While you might not ever be comfortable, you will learn to tolerate AND operate safely in turbulence.

Learn to understand what the winds/temp aloft gradient is telling you
Learn to read the lifted index/K index stability charts
Look for the tightly spaced isotachs and isobars
And all that other stuff you thought you'd never use that tells you about the stability of an airmass....and relax, or at least sound relaxed on the radio.

Turbulence is just another facet of flying that has to be dealt with and often endured. One problem is getting a real idea of what other pilots are reporting in that often terms are very loose and not in accordance with definitions in the AIM.

Light defined as Turbulence that momentarily causes slight, erratic chances in altitude and or attitude If it is slight, rapid and rhythmic is can be reported as chop.

Moderate similar to light but of a greater intensity and usually causing changes in airspeed.

In both light and moderate positive control of the airplane is ALWAYS available.

Severe causes large and abrupt changes with LARGE variations of airspeed. Aircraft may be momentarily out of control

Extreme where aircraft is violently toss about and is practically impossible to control. MAY cause structural damage.

There are lots of sources out there to show you where you can expect to encounter turbulence so you can figure out IF there is a way to avoid it or at least lessen the encounter. But some days, it is just going to be butt-ugly from the ground to the upper flight levels. The nice thing is if you are not a commercial pilot, you don't have to go.

Personally I like the 'coffee' rating on turbulence.

Light is where the coffee in your cup has little ripples but you can still drink your coffee.

Moderate is where the coffee is occasionally spilling out of the cup and you have to be very flexible when trying to drink it.

Severe is when there are white caps in your cup and you are wearing more than you are drinking.

Extreme is where you can't hold the cup, coffee is all over the cockpit and the F/As, if you have them onboard, are calling you to tell you they are going to boil you in coffee after you land.

EvilGN, thank you for correcting me. I don't know what I was thinking.

wordfromthewise, what plane are you flying?

Not sure if you are being sarcastic, but I was a P-3 pilot and a T-6 Texan II instructor. I also taught aviation weather for 4 years so I think I know a little about the subject....

Not being sarcastic at all. I can't go back and edit what I said about maintaining altitude, so I just wanted to reiterate that I was wrong and you are correct in saying to maintain attitude. I didn't want to create confusion for wordfromthewise or anyone else if they read this topic.

ahh...I think I jumped the gun and came across sounding like a jerk, I apologize for the way I worded my post.

i fly diamond katana's and diamondstar's. thanks again for the great advice

The only thing that worries me about turbulence is that it will rock me sleep.

Turbulence reminds me that I'm flying :) Smooth air is just spooky.

Remember, the plane is stronger than you :)

I used to get a little uptight about turbulence. One of my instructors was an avid gilder pilot and he could almost read the clouds and the ground and tell when it was coming. I learned a lot, and don't tense up anymore.

Having a couple hundred hours in Diamonds, I'm sorry. I love the planes, but they are so light that turbulence can just pound those planes. Plus, the low clearance for your head doesn't help when you encounter "Moderate" turbulence. A heavier airplane is less susceptible to the kind of turbulence that makes for a "fun" day in a DA20. If you have the chance, try one.

where do you fly out of?

the rocky mountain region, Kpvu

ahhh yes... 125.3

I did my training at uvsc

I didn't really fly into turbulence until I got my time building job in las vegas flying to the grand canyon( c206/207/402) constant updrafts and downdrafts. I was "puckered up" the entire time I was flying to the canyon year round!