If you’re worried about air travel, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with British Airways’ captain Steve Allright’s company’s British Airways Flying with Confidence course for passengers who are nervous during flights.
In her talks on this course, Allright shares some airplane facts that will help you take your worries off your next flight, from how far an airplane can glide to why turbulence is nothing to be afraid of.
Don’t be afraid of turbulence
“Our most important statement about the British Airways Flying Safe course is this: Turbulence is uncomfortable but never dangerous,” Captain Allright said in a conversation with MailOnline Travel. “All modern commercial airplanes are incredibly rugged and can withstand any kind of turbulence. From the early years of aviation, designers knew what was required and many safety factors were higher than any other form of transport.”
Allright continues: “Moreover, and most importantly, new airplanes are tested to extreme limits before they are certified to carry passengers. In our Flying With Confidence course, we show you the wings that push a Boeing 787 on test rigs beyond even the heaviest turbulence. Our customers, along with the explanation above, find this to be the most reassuring information.”
As for how much an airplane can drop during turbulence, Captain Allright says, “Definitely not the thousands of feet you hear people talk about or see in some movies.” Airplanes usually only descend around 3 to 6 meters (10 to 20 feet) during turbulence, but this can be more in severe turbulence. Allbright continues: “It is important to emphasize that your pilots are trained to deal with turbulence and that severe turbulence is extremely rare. I have been flying for 32 years and have only experienced severe turbulence once.”
to wear a seat belt
While explaining the main purpose of wearing seat belts in turbulence, Captain Allright said, “We don’t want people to injure themselves by falling during turbulence. We always emphasize that customers should always follow the advice and instructions of the crew.”
Unfortunately, Captain Allright says there aren’t many areas of the plane that are less affected by turbulence, and he states that maybe it’s a little easier to move around near the center of the plane.
Allbright said of the loud squeaking sound heard as the plane takes off, “This is known as the ‘barking dog’ sound of Airbus. In the course we give a full explanation and talk to customers about every single sound in flight, which gives additional reassurance, but (this sound) is basically the sound of the aircraft’s hydraulic power system working. More importantly, it’s perfectly normal, as are many of the noises that anxious passengers can worry about on an airplane. “We encourage people in our courses to assume everything is normal unless told otherwise.”
Does it run out of fuel during flight?
Captain Allright also has something to say for those who fear that they will run out of fuel during the flight: that airplanes always carry extra fuel and that even after maneuvers with a change of landing point, they can easily continue to fly for more than 30 minutes, all calculations with great care and safety margins. states that it was left out.
Reminding that it is the wings that make the plane fly, not the engines, Allbright emphasizes that even in the event of an engine failure, an airplane at an altitude of 9,000 meters can continue to glide more than 150 kilometers.
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