Sochi - Video shows how the pilot managed to weave the jet's way through the intimidating tornado-like spouts.
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Published: Fri 1 Sep 2017, 11:49 AM
Last updated: Fri 1 Sep 2017, 1:59 PM
A passenger jet pilot made a frightening landing in Russia on Tuesday as he was forced to fly around three water spouts, reports say. A video of the landing in Sochi shows how the pilot managed to weave the jet's way through the intimidating tornado-like spouts. The incident happened on Tuesday when 12 spouts were raging in the Black Sea off the coast of the southwestern city, Daily Mail reports. A passenger also took a photo inside the flight, showing the scary water spouts. However it is not clear whether or not this is the same plane as the one in the video. According to a Sochi Express report it is not yet known where the plane had come from, but at least nine other flights were diverted from the airport as a result of the menacing weather. The city, which hosted the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics returned to normal Wednesday. What exactly happens during turbulence?
Air turbulence is one of the most talked about subjects among flight passengers but many are unaware what exactly it means. The reasons that cause turbulence There are three main causes of turbulence. Reason 1: The most common is a sudden change in the wind direction and speed. (These combined forces are called 'windshear' and the impact on flying is called 'clear air turbulence'). Aircraft can encounter a lot of sudden wind changes as they climb through the atmosphere to reach their cruising altitude (where the air is usually much smoother). That's why the seat belt sign typically stays on for several minutes after take-off - the Captain is waiting to reach smoother air higher up. (Pro tip: If you listen carefully as the aircraft climbs, you'll be able to hear the wind noise around the aircraft increase. This is usually the aircraft reaching a jetstream, which run like currents in the upper atmosphere.) Reason 2: Turbulence is also caused by a sudden change in air temperature, which often happens when flying through thick clouds. Reason 3: The third cause is wake turbulence. Large jet aircraft (like the A380 or B747) disturb the air as they fly through it at close to the speed of sound - a bit like a large ships creating a wash behind them as they churn through the ocean. For this reason, air traffic controllers deliberately leave plenty of distance between large aircraft in particular. Wake turbulence does happen, but it's very uncommon. Reducing turbulence There are a few ways we work on to reduce turbulence, in the interests of giving you a more comfortable flight. Weather reports - As part of their pre-flight briefing, pilots receive a map from our Integrated Operations Centre on their iPad showing the weather along their planned route. This includes an indication of likely turbulence on a scale of 0 to 15. The pilots will use this information to plot the smoothest path they can. Most of the time, numbers are between 3 and 6. Anything over 10 you'd probably tell your friends about. But the aircraft can deal with all of it. Otherwise, we wouldn't be flying. Other aircraft - Aircraft flying on the same route often radio each other about any rough spots of unexpected turbulence they've encountered, and what altitude they've gone to (up or down) to find smoother air. Air Traffic Controllers join in as well, helping to share information between aircraft. Radar on board - Radar equipment in the nose of the aircraft scans ahead to show storms, allowing pilots to plan a course around them. This is particularly important on long haul flights, where weather conditions on the route will change over the 10+ hour journey you're on. New technology - There are some exciting developments that will help reduce the bumps in the near future. The 787s (arriving from October 2017) have 'Smooth Ride Technology', which uses flaps on the wings to detect and counteract turbulence. And WiFi on domestic flights will give pilots real-time weather updates, so they can avoid rough air more effectively. Nothing to fear Aircraft are specifically designed to deal with severe turbulence. For instance, the wings flex up and down when it gets bumpy but they are designed to bend much, much further. The structural integrity of the aircraft is engineered for all sorts of turbulence. The biggest risk from turbulence is being tossed around and the better option for safety is to wear the seat belt. Watch video here:
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