A FORMER flight attendant has explained the one flight you will always get turbulence – and how nervous travellers can avoid being scared.
Simon Marton, 49, was a flight attendant for four and a half years, and said that flights over the coast of Ireland will nearly always be hit with a bumpy ride.
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He said that passengers travelling from the US to the UK will always get turbulence in the same spot, due to the jet streams over the Atlantic Ocean.
Simon, author of Journey of a Reluctant Air Steward, told Sun Online Travel: “If you’re coming from the States and you are going to London, you will nearly always hit turbulence over the coast of Ireland in the Atlantic Ocean.
“This happens about two to three hours before landing, but it is completely normal.
“Passengers shouldn’t worry about it, as it is due to the jet streams over the Atlantic that this happens, as it can cause high winds.”
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This means if you are travelling from Florida or New York back home, you will most likely experience turbulence towards the end of the flight, which is bad news for nervous travellers.
Jet streams are fast flowing air currents affected by a difference in heat.
If planes fly in the direction of a jet stream then it can make the flight much quicker – which was shown by the recent record-breaking BA flight from New York to London.
Jet streams can also be “bumpy” when they aren’t straight, according to the Met Office, which can then cause turbulence.
Turbulence is rarely dangerous, although some injuries do occur on planes if it happens suddenly.
Ryanair passengers were recently left terrified and even vomiting due to extreme turbulence during Storm Dennis.
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However a former pilot explained to Sun Online Travel: “The level of turbulence required to dislodge an engine or bend a wing spar is something even the most frequent flyer – or pilot for that matter – won’t experience in a lifetime of travelling.”
Other areas of high turbulence include the equator, due to the winds from the Northern and Southern hemispheres, as well as over mountains due to the wind speeds which hit the rocky terrain.
Simon added that you can also experience “wake turbulence” – when a small aircraft is caught in the wake of a larger aircraft, making it a bumpier ride.
However, the former flight attendant shared his own tips on how to avoid feeling scared on a plane.
He said: “Don’t be nervous – planes are safer than they have ever been. But if you are feeling scared or you can’t sleep, ask for a whiskey from the flight crew.
“This will help you to sleep and hopefully avoid the worst of the turbulence.”
Last year, 13 people were left injured including broken bones after severe turbulence during a flight to Germany.
A BA flight was met with medical assistance after turbulence caused the plane to drop, injuring 14 passengers.
One flight nose-dived twice during turbulence which sent the drinks trolley through the cabin.
