Nervous flyer myself but the planes are built to take it. As long as your buckled up you’d be fine. As far as i know there has only ever been two airlines brought down by turbulance in the last 50 years.

Do you think updating you over the intercom is really the priority when the plane is in those conditions?

The fact that your whiskey and coke is splashed all over the roof should be able to tell you enough! Seriously though, the pilot usually tells you if there will be turbulence ahead, and seatbelt signs go on. If you’re worried, anti-histamines or Valium can ease the peril.

Cian Byrne; I outlined some of my fears of flying which includes (in general) pilots who say nothing during the whole flight but I think during bad turbulence or crisis hitting the plane, it would be nice if the pilot assured us he was aware of the problem and working on it / reassuring us / warning us in advance.

I was on an Aer Lingus flight recently from Spain to Ireland, I am a nervous flyer and the pilot never spoke during the flight. We were flying into bad weather and I was seated at the emergency exit. The pilot switched on the seatbelt light, had a bit of turbulence and the lights came on at the engine. Was convinced there was a problem and the pilot was saying nothing because he didn’t want to worry us. Convinced myself that it was early to be landing and this must be an emergency. Turns out we we are arriving in Cork early and it was just me being a silly nervous fool. But for me and other nervous flyers, if the pilot said he was preparing to land and give the usual speal about the weather, it would be much nicer.

Remember on a Wizz Air flight the plane kept dropping and climbing suddenly, with the seatbelt sign on. This went on for a good 10mins and I was a nervous wreck purely because I was convinced there was a problem as the pilot didn’t mention anything about landing or problems landing.

Sure, to people who don’t have problems flying you will laugh at this and think its a stupid thing to worry about. But if you are a nervous flyer, this is what goes through your mind and is why pilots need to speak during flights. :)

One pilots don’t need to speak and two if you’re a nervous flyer you really shouldn’t be sitting at an emergency exit.

Kevin, if there was anything wrong with your flight you would know about it! A coded PA would be made to warn the cabin crew, looks of terror would appear on their faces and then you know it’s time to kiss your ass good bye! If a few lights come on, a few ding dongs happen and the cabin crew are still sipping on their cuppas, you’ve nothing to worry about!

So please don’t expect the crew to fender bend to one nervous flyer and put the rest of the passengers out by annoying them with even more bloody PAs!!!!

there are people in the West who have never crossed the Shannon.

Or potholes/roadworks in the sky.

Usual operation is for 737′s have to have pressurisation switched on; Airbus’ has to be switched off, usually never happens; suspect pilot error with air conditioning packs not switched on after engine start….doh!

Depressurisation is actually not a serious event so long as the basic steps are taken – reduce altitude, release oxygen masks, breathe normally. That article is rather sensationalistic – and the passenger too!
The only reason this was ever mentioned was because cabin crew were injured.
Aircraft are the same as cars – things go wrong all the time, but rest assured, the two at the front know what’s going on!

Yawn !!

Paid and medical costs covered but Pilot may get a rollicking

It isn’t the pilots fault! Turbulence happens and sometimes can’t be avoided.

cabin crew are not allowed were high heels on the flight , they are the first thing that is changed when they get on board, i use to work as cabin crew and broke a bone in my wrist during turbulance, it can easily happen if you are in the cabin, hence why we check all pax have there seatbelts on.

Cabin crew are required to wear flat shoes as standard once onboard an aircraft!

Umm thanks Donal sure as hell never flying good old boat does me!!!

My Aunty was on a flight to Florida when it hit turbulence the trolley cart hit the roof and back down again by this stage my Aunty was screaming for the plane to stop and let her off!!! She got first class seats didn’t affect her much she keeps on flying me I don’t think I could cope!!!!