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-   -   Etihad turbulence out of WA (https://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zealand-pacific/599314-etihad-turbulence-out-wa.html)

maggot 9th Sep 2017 23:07

Well ASIR and ac inspection then, good job.

I could easily see injuries on an ME airline with the signs on, the service usually continues in full swing.

donpizmeov 10th Sep 2017 02:13

It depends maggot.

Capn Bloggs 10th Sep 2017 03:11


Originally Posted by clear to land
By definition severe turbulence means that the pilot is not in control of the aircraft so if you have the capacity to make a radio call then Mayday is the appropriate one

I'd be directing that mental capacity to getting myself back under control, then make a Mayday call. You may be in "grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance" but nobody will be able to help you at that point in time.

maggot 10th Sep 2017 03:21


Originally Posted by donpizmeov (Post 9887333)
It depends maggot.

Yeah I'm sure it does, just an obs from a bunch of travelling on a few of the me3 - with no knowledge of your procedures obv.

For me its odd to see a service continue with the signs on tho.

RickNRoll 10th Sep 2017 04:24

Would have liked to have seen the 787 wings flexing in that.

donpizmeov 10th Sep 2017 05:05

Just different procedures maggot. Depending on the weather/bumps pax can be strapped in and service without hot drinks continued. Or Crew and pax are strapped in if the bumps dictate.

clear to land 10th Sep 2017 17:01

Ok Bloggs I was guilty of assuming that it would be apparent that capacity was only available after the aircraft was in some semblance of control-I guess I didn't spell it out though. From personal experience with severe CAT the only thing I cared about was regaining control however once regained there is no guarantee it will be maintained e.g. more CAT so thats when the radio call would be appropriate-also as a warning to following traffic i.e. Airmanship. Does that spell it out clearly enough!

flyingins 15th Sep 2017 02:59

From my observations over the years, there can be a tendency to underestimate what actually constitutes severe turbulence. For the record, you don't have to be out of control to be in defined severe turbulence. The definition is "may", but needs to be taken in the context of what else is going on at the time;

"Conditions in which abrupt changes in aircraft attitude and/or altitude occur; aircraft may be out of control for short periods. Usually, large variations in air speed. Changes in accelerometer readings greater than 1.0G at the aircraft's centre of gravity. Occupants are forced violently against their seatbelts. Loose objects are tossed about".

I recently experienced what I deemed to be severe turbulence during a go-around in foreign airspace. Naturally there was no accelerometer to give me instantaneous G-readings but I did observe speed fluctuations of around 40 knots (20 either side of my target Vref + 20) and although the autopilot managed to hold on, I was certain that it was not commanding rates of climb varying rapidly between 500 and 7000 fpm!

In the heat of the moment, the only real test I had at hand was the "eye-roll" test - the instruments were a blur and I can't even describe the noise. Test failed! This was further backed up by data some days later which confirmed a total fluctuation range of 1.1G and 0.8G over 3 seconds on 3 separate occasions. Truly frightening, but Boeing (and Airbus) do build 'em like tanks...

All up sounds like the EY crew did a great job (hope they found a way back to PER which didn't force them back through the bumps!). We should never be afraid to call severe turbulence what it is, even if uncertain that it's bad enough to cause a fuss. If doubt exists? It's probably severe!

ps - I also note that one Australian carrier does tend to call severe turbulence when everyone else assesses light to moderate. Overabundance of caution, perhaps?


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