Singapore Airlines Storms

[keltic]

Well, I am one of those passengers who hate flying, and after AF447 storms makes me feel quite uneasy, and even scared. Of course I know about the weather radar, the lightning doesnīt harm the aircraft, but I am still really concerned as there has been too many events involving storms which shouldnīt have never happened.

Flying on SQ321 (A380) to Singapore next saturday I am starting to take pills. I know itīs early to check weather forecast, but Asia is tricky at this time of the year, and storms are predicted next saturday, and a 17:55 is not a really nice time if one wants to avoid storms.

I would love to hear if weather could get really nasty in Singapore, and what are the procedures when the pilot receives the report of storms in the landing path. Avoid the landing, wait, get into it (I hope not) and how well can the A380 cope with turbulence, and storms.

I do trust SQ trainning, and suppose they know their place quite well,

[Andy_S]

Without pre-empting any report into AF447, it's likely that the accident was due to a combination of reasons. The weather may have been a factor, but is most unlikely to have been the outright cause.

As you say, the aircraft is designed to cope with bad weather, and the pilots have weather radar and can avoid the worst of any storms.

Just think about the statistics. Think about the hundreds of flights that land and take off at Changi every day, week after week, year after year, without any dramas. Why should yours be any different?

[parabellum]

I flew with SIA for ten years and the policy was always to avoid storms like the plague. If a storm is passing at the time you are due to land then then you can expect to hold off until the storm passes, usually absolute maximum of forty five minutes but generally a whole lot less. It is normal procedure to fly around active weather cells whilst en route but you can still expect some buffeting, somewhere, on a thirteen hour flight.

[keltic]

Thanks a lot.

I do love this

Think about the hundreds of flights that land and take off at Changi every day

the policy was always to avoid storms like the plague

Two ideas which sound reasonable and conforting. Pills and a glass of wine

But I mean.....when storms are reported, I suppose it doesnīt necessary mean that they should be in the approach path. Isolated T-storms, means for instance that they could be in one side of the runway but not in the other?. Or even in the vicinity, but not necesarily over the airport?. Are the weather radars effective to check where they are?. Do the crews always know what kind of clouds they are getting in?. Are all clouds turbulent?.

I know rain doesnīt usully mean "turbulence".

[Load Toad]

I used to live in Singers and was a pax flying in and out of there up to 80 times a year and never had the slightest problem.

[keltic]

Hi Load Toad;

Thanks as well. In fact and flying back from Hong Kong in 10 days time with VS. I know Hong Kong weather is a little bit more "complex" than Singapore one and we might encounter a typhon, or similar storms.

However, I donīt know the reason, but storms donīt scare me that much in taking off, since I suppose I could cancel or postpone my flight from the ground if I see that the situation gets nasty.

Anyway, it doesnīt sound too drammatical though.

[VH DSJ]

I think you'll find their pilots just as scared as you are with thunderstorms; read that as "they'll do their best to avoid them"

Originally Posted by keltic

I do trust SQ trainning, and suppose they know their place quite well,

Well, as a matter of fact, SQ trains their pilots in Western Australia on the edge of the Australian desert. They'd be lucky to see one puff of cloud in all their training.

[Donkey497]

Hi Keltic,

I did LHR - SIN a couple of months ago in the A380. We had a couple of thunderstorms floating about when we were coming in to land, and all we did was to change the approach pattern & timing to avoid flying through the storms on finals.

Likewise on the return flight, there was a storm on the "ideal" flightpath, so we had a slightly early turn to port, there was also a farily nasty line of thunderstorms all the way up the east coast of sumatra, so we kept a bit west of them passing Kuala Lumpur.

Apart from that the flights were completely uneventful. I have immense respect for the A380. I appreciate that I travelled on the top deck in business class as I was out there for work, however, I found it to be the smoothest, quietest and least fussy aircraft that I have ever travelled on. There is very little sensation of movement during takeoff and landing and I cannot say that I noticed anything like the "normal" levels of vibration or turbulence at any point of the flight.

Enjoy the flight and enjoy the overall experience.

[keltic]

Thanks both of you too. I have been reading about the new vertical weather radar fitted on the A380 from Honeywell, sounds good.

I will try to enjoy the experience.

[leewan]

Have no worries, dude. The weather for the last few weeks in SIN has been hot as hell. But then again, SIN weather can change without warning like a womens' mood during PMS.
All pilots including incl SQ's are professionally trained to avoid nasty storms and other nasties along their flight path. They can see this through their weather radar.
And storms in SIN , no matter how heavy they are, very rarely pack strong winds which is the main danger point for the tech crew.
In the worst case scenario, they will just circle the airport for up to an hour or land at alternative airports like KLIA or Batam.

[Rush2112]

Flying in and out of SIN on a very regular basis, almost always on SQ. Never had an issue with the weather. And as leewan notes, it's pretty warm just now. Did have some rain over the weekend IIRC but I may have hallucinated it after a session at Brewerkz.

[Load Toad]

Sit back, have a drink, chill out.

[keltic]

And off topic question...........as weather seems to be not a matter of concern. Do you know if the cruise terminal can be reached using the underground?.

[Rainboe]

I'm trying not to comment here, but it is proving too much. So we have yet another nervous passenger who buys himself a ticket on an airline he's probably never heard of before, then lies awake at night worrying about it. Here's another running (scared) now.

An airline pilots forum is not necessarily the place where you will find reassurance or sympathy! Either go or don't (and forego your fare), but please don't bore us all to death with your nerves. I do this job for a living. What do you want people to say? 'yes, you are in extreme danger!' or 'what are you worried about, you wimp! Do you want a guarantee you are perfectly safe in life until cancer gets you at 85?' Go or don't go, but the rest of the world does not have to witness your shakes or pander to your nerves! Be a man and conquor this nonsense- I have done countless trips through there over nearly 40 years- how did I manage?

I think maybe time for a sticky for nervous passengers, but how many new threads from wobblies do we need?

[keltic]

Thanks for your kinds words too. Technically youīre right, but I canīt understand what makes you feel so angry. No, absolutely. I donīt want to hear any encouraging comments, thatīs my psycology task.

I think you have misunderstood me. The issue here, as itīs the passenger forum, itīs not a fearful flier wimp cry, but just some information about what are the procedures like in the case of storms in the landing paths. I am so sorry to have upset and bored you. However from the hard and unfair comments, I do appreciate some of your remarks.

I have done countless trips through there over nearly 40 years- how did I manage?

Sounds good, Rainbow.
Best wishes

[Scumbag O'Riley]

I completely know where you are coming from keltic so take a look at this thread, http://www.pprune.org/passengers-slf...er-thread.html, just on page one a SN3Guppy has some wise words.

[Final 3 Greens]

Rainboe

I really don't get you.

Here is a passenger with a concern, who is asking questions about something of concern and learning. Keltic even says "as weather seems to be not a matter of concern."

So s/he has used the forum to put a reasonable concern into perspective and overcome a worry.

From where I'm sitting, this looks pretty positive.

Then you come along like the local bully.....

What is it with you?

I saw your stupid comment about the 'ride of the valkyries' on the other thread and thought how juvenile it sounded.

Research suggests that somwheat over half of all airline pax are nervous - they are your customers, so please treat them with some respect.

[clareprop]

I'm trying not to comment here, but it is proving too much.

So here we have an arrogant pilot who, as a number of recent threads seem to show, thinks he's God's gift to psychology, flying for some second-rate airline we probably don't care about.

A passenger forum is a fairly acceptable place to ask questions about fear of flying, especially after recent events but this "pilot" enjoys boring us all to death about how only weaklings have concerns and anybody who isn't a hetrosexual, able-bodied human being who is prepared to pay their money, strap in and shut-up, shouldn't leave home.

However, there is some good news in the offing. On the basis that he, allegedly, has been flying for 40 years, he will soon be sent home where he can spend his days happily fulminating about how bad it is now and how wonderful it all used to be.

[keltic]

I donīt want to sound like a trembling piece of jelly myself, and donīt want to go directly to the fearfull stuff. I fly, I assume the minimum risk, and I know is more likely to be killed bitten by a bee for instance. I do trust the pilots, and I have never wanted to imply that flying is dangerous. Not at all.

One out of five passengers are fearfull fliers in a different degree, because they donīt have enough information, which is usually increased by biased media. Thatīs why those who love aviation, like me, like this forum as an valuable source for technical information. I suppose thatīs why the passengers forum is aimed to. A point of contact between passengers and pilots. We might sound stupid sometimes, but we need to understand things from your prespective. Itīs a privilige for us. Taking into account that the passengers, are a prime target for airlines, since we are the source of income, itīs normal that we can share our feelings with you.

I have had a lightning strike on landing in Venice, which wasnīt too serious, and now roughly that storms are not dangerous at all. I suppose AF447 made us to be a little bit more surprised, because as we have always been told: storms are not a matter of concern. Still nothing definite on the crash, but I still have in mind: how could he get into there with the radars?. I still trust in aviation, but need to understand some things, not questioning the ability of pilots, but needing to know more.

Thanks Scumbag O'Riley, Clearpop and Final 3 Greens, and all those who have clarified some points. You all have been of great help. I didnīt mean to create such a controversy.

[TightSlot]

Rainboe - has been given a short break from PPRuNe to calm down. Twenty Four hours on the naughty step should focus his attention.