Aviation

How Pilots Handle Turbulence During Commercial Flights

When pilots encounter turbulence while flying commercial airplanes, their response varies depending on the severity of the turbulence.

Just as ocean waves break on a beach, air also forms waves as it encounters mountains. While some air passes smoothly over and onward, some air masses crowd against the mountains themselves, left with nowhere to go but up. These “mountain waves” can propagate as wide, gentle oscillations into the atmosphere, but they can also break up into many tumultuous currents, which we experience as turbulence.

Pilots are trained to manage turbulence through a series of well-defined procedures. Initially, they will ensure that passengers and crew are seated and securely fastened by turning on the fasten seatbelt sign. Communication is key, so the flight crew will inform passengers of the situation, providing reassurance and instructions to remain seated.

In mild turbulence, pilots might make small adjustments to the aircraft’s speed and altitude to find a smoother flight path. They rely on weather radar and reports from other pilots to navigate around or through turbulent areas. In more severe turbulence, pilots may request a different flight level from air traffic control to avoid the turbulent airspace.

Modern aircraft are designed to handle a significant amount of stress, but pilots will still slow the aircraft to its “turbulence penetration speed” to minimize the forces on the airframe. This speed is lower than the cruising speed and allows the plane to safely absorb the impacts of turbulence without compromising structural integrity.

Furthermore, pilots continuously monitor the aircraft’s systems and performance during turbulence. Autopilot systems are often engaged to help maintain stability and control. However, pilots are ready to take manual control if necessary, ensuring the safety and comfort of everyone on board.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.