Inform pax before S-turns?

[BigJETS]

Going through an inquisitive phase,
Wondering, Do pilots warn passengers that they are about to use this manuever? Ive seen some rather dramatic ones that surely would alarm some people. Ive never been lucky enough to ride one.
The best I ever saw was a DC-10 one evening. Came within less than a mile of a RJ as it flew over my house. It was better than the Thunderbirds. I shudder to think how the carpet looked right after dinner like that.
http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/eek.gif http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/tongue.gif http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/confused.gif
:mad: http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/confused.gif :rolleyes: http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif

[Jetdriver]

Not sure I really understand what you mean by " S turns" ? If a manouver was ever necessary to avoid a potential conflict it would be undertaken without delay. We do not inform the passengers first. It may well happen that the passengers are informed subsequently, if that would be appropriate in the circumstances.

Planes come within a mile of each other all the time, usually at vertical seperations of 1000 ft or more. I am totally lost as to the meaning of your last 2 sentences ?

[BigJETS]

Jetdriver, Sorry I wasnt more clear then. I thought an S turn was when an AC leaves the approach path and then reenters it again to create distance. The instance I described was a DC10 turning about 60 degrees right meanwhile adding alot of throttle then turning sharply back into the approach. There is no vertical separation and less than a mile (1/2 mile?)behind the leading RJ was much closer than usual (obviously, as the situation required a manuever). It was fantastic to watch (ala thunderbirds) and could cause the motion sensitive traveler to request a sick bag (I was being overly sarcastic and blunt).
But still the question. I see this happen frequently. So would they inform pax or is it much less dramatic on the plane?

[IanBowden]

Was the DC-10 doing a procedure turn? maybe thats what you mean by s-turn?

[wonderbusdriver]

- No, you don´t make an announcement during that phase in flight. You have to monitor the flight path!

- Most passengers don´t know what turns are necessary for the approach anyway, so it shouldn´t annoy them. (e.g. Canarsie APP into JFK is one where you have to do a long turn at low level - And you don´t make an announcement prior to that either)

- If S-turns (NOT a "normal" manoeuver) are flown smoothly, you won´t spill any drinks.
(I´ve done them once in BOS and, "swingovers" from the southern RWY to the northern one in FRA below 1000ft...)

- The pitch/power-changes (attitude and engine noise changes) in bumpy weather will be much worse.
It will make people with a fear of flying even more afraid if you announce it prior.

- It looks "worse" from the ground, than in the plane.

- As long as they didn´t do a turn with 60 degrees bank in the DC 10...

[BigJETS]

60 degrees that I spoke of may be a tad extreme but it was not a slight turn. Unlike alot of S turns I have seen. He really banked hard and gave it the gas. I was surprised he waited that long, because I was expecting it(hence the question). They normally fly over the house, roughly every minute or so. This time, the little RJ flew over, then about 15 seconds later the DC10. Got my attention. It was a nice manuever.
Its the approach to 22R at ORD, just past "Ridge" so its close and normally quite straight. No procedure turns. About one minute from TD. He was clearly just too close. Taking the Alliance thing a little too far. :)
But question answered, thanks.

[DCDriver]

Visual sidestep, commonly used at a/d's with parallel rwys. Saves a Go-Around.
Typical DC10 Va 150kt+, so can easily catch up slower a/c if separation was tight to begin with.
DCD