Scroggins from Riyadh
Your apprehension of flying is very common many people feel that way. The vast array of information available now is phenomenal.
There are many things to consider. For example your flight crew has a vested interest in arriving safely. Secondly they are trained, equipped and experienced and have made this journey dozens or even hundreds of times. What you will encounter in flight is routine to them. The commander of your widebody jet has likely been in the industry 30 years.
Now let’s briefly discuss the satellite photo you linked to. Your pilots and the dispatchers working your flight have all the tools you have and more. Additionally they have the experience of working this same flight, in your case from Dubai to Singapore, many times. For them this flight is routine.
Consider that the cloud and weather formations you are looking at are normal daily patterns of moisture, high and low pressure systems and are an hourly occurrence every single day on a planetary scale. The individual weather systems are not hidden assassins lurking in the dark to do you great harm. Your Dubai-Singapore flight is a relatively long journey covering a significant number of miles. As you fly that far you will encounter differing weather patterns. My main point here is the red dots you are looking at on the screen shot you linked to are not muggers intent on doing you bodily harm, they are normal everyday occurrences as viewed from your lofty space view.
Your airline likely operates the latest Airbus A-380s and Boeing 777, with vastly experienced crews. Should the need arise your crew has the ability to fly over the top of or go around any areas of weather they choose to avoid. They are equipped and experienced using the latest navigation, communication and weather devices available today. The most likely reason to avoid an area of weather is passenger comfort as the modern jetliner is capable of enduring much more of a rough ride than any of the passengers want to go through. In other words your jet is a tough piece of machinery and able to protect you. With good reason you may put your trust in your crew and their airliner.
Looking at the satellite view again you are limited by not knowing the vertical extent, how high the clouds reach, of the weather depicted. Your flight’s dispatcher and pilots will have that information and will plan their flight accordingly.
As far as correlating turbulent flight and flying through “weather systems” that depends. One can fly through extensive stratus clouds and have a very smooth ride. Or one can fly through few cumulus clouds and experience a lot of turbulence. And then there is “CAT” (Clear Air Turbulence) which can be very rough and would be virtually invisible to the satellite picture. So, yes, sometimes there is a correlation between many clouds and a bumpy flight. Just because you do not see little white or red concentrations does not guarantee a perfectly smooth ride.
By all means continue to ask questions and do your own research. There are many online courses offered to assist those who are apprehensive about flying. I do not teach them myself, but if you want more information PM me and I will recommend one, or just do a search on “fear of flying +courses”.
In summary red dots on a TV or computer screen are not assassins looking to do you great harm. Continue to educate yourself with the vast resources available online. Try to get a 3 dimensional understanding of what you are looking at. Realize your jet, crew and the airline standing behind them on your flight all exist to ensure your safe passage. They all have a huge vested interest in your arriving safely and eager to travel with them again!
Thank you for continuing to purchase those tickets thus enabling us to continue to do the job most of us love.
Respectfully,
Northbeach
Last edited by Northbeach; 29th Apr 2010 at 03:20.