Who fell into an air pocket. Turbulence and air pockets. Air funnels over various types of terrain

Many who have flown on an airplane are familiar with the nerve-wracking ups and downs caused by air pockets. Strong ascending and descending vortices that create an air pocket are formed when the smooth flow of air is interrupted by temperature changes or changes in external conditions.

Differences in air temperature are explained by the fact that areas earth's surface emit different amounts of heat. The air over roads and sand, for example, heats up much faster than over forests or lakes. Updrafts form in fairly warm air, while downdrafts can also appear in cold air. Even when temperatures are close to each other, mountains and high buildings that impede the smooth passage of air can cause air funnels. Vortexes and funnels are formed in the air that has overcome these obstacles.

A stationary vortex cloud over the top of the volcano marks the boundary between cold air and upward warm air. Clouds like these are signs of thermal turbulence.

Tall buildings can cause vortexes when standing in the path of sustained surface winds. In the photo above, plumes of smoke represent the movement of air around models of low (top) and high (bottom) buildings. In both cases, the wind hitting the building is reflected at an upward angle. Some mountains direct air flow in this way.

Air funnels over various types of terrain

A jet aircraft flying over a heterogeneous surface (right) can fall into a thermal air funnel. Significant updrafts, marked by clouds, are possible over large sandy areas of soil that quickly warm up in the bright sun. Forests and rivers warm much more slowly, and therefore downdrafts are sometimes observed over these areas of the surface. Alternating patches of clear skies and clouds can warn of a sharp rise ahead.

Funnel in a clear sky

Clear skies are generally calm, but there are exceptions in the upper atmosphere. Near the polar front jet stream and in clear weather, an air funnel approximately 10 km high often appears. Here, where the cold polar circulation chamber and the warmer Ferrell chamber collide, air masses move at different speeds in the tropopause, which can result in strong vortices.

Mountain atmospheric waves

A deep mountain air vortex can occur when strong winds move over a mountain range and upward, and then find themselves under a stable layer of air at an altitude of about 3000 m above the peak and, deviating to the east, collapse downwards, and then form a vortex and head upward. Bulging clouds over a mountain range are a sign of the presence of mountain waves, which are common over the Rocky Mountains.

Trips

What's happened air pocket? Flying an airplane

January 20, 2016

From the ground it may seem that the clouds are clumps of cotton wool. But only children can believe this. In reality, clouds are formed by the accumulation of millions of water droplets. Sometimes even the most seemingly harmless cloudiness causes doubts among pilots.

Previously, flying an airplane was completely subject to intuition, luck and the experience of the captain. Today, flight safety has reached a higher level, thanks to the development of the aviation industry. However, not a single pilot, even the most experienced one, can insure the plane from falling into thunderclouds, where, as a rule, lightning, hail, and an air pocket await him. What kind of phenomenon is this and should we be afraid of it?

What is turbulence?

Pilots call this phenomenon “chatter.” Some say it's an air pocket. The plane sways from side to side, and sometimes it seems as if it is jumping and flapping its wings.

Surprisingly, turbulence can occur not only when the plane enters a cloudy area. There is such a thing as clear sky turbulence. But if the weather is calm, pressure and humidity are normal, then the temperature is evenly distributed in the air. This ideal conditions for a safe flight. And if there are clouds in the sky, then this is already an indicator that there are temperature changes. Upward and downward air flows have different pressures. When an airplane enters such zones, it begins to shake. Especially the air pocket, or rather getting into it, is felt during a flight over mountains, oceans or the sea. But you shouldn’t be too afraid of this phenomenon, since modern aircraft were initially designed taking all these points into account.

What are the dangers of turbulence?

“Bumpiness” is not a pleasant phenomenon, but it is absolutely safe for an airplane. Almost all pilots are convinced of this. But nevertheless, when they find themselves in zones of turbulence, they immediately strive to leave them. As a rule, there is no accidental entry into the bumpy zone. Pilots prepare in advance for possible difficulties in flight. That's why they always have a couple in stock additional routes bypass.

You should know that this phenomenon cannot cause any harm to the aircraft. It will not break, fall apart or explode. But passengers have a hard time in such an environment. Those who, for one reason or another, did not fasten their seat belts may especially suffer. In this case, you can even be seriously injured.

Truth or myth?

Most passengers believe that getting into turbulence depends entirely on the skill of the pilot. But, unfortunately, neither the latter’s skills, nor experience, nor qualifications can influence this in any way. The degree of shaking is influenced solely by atmospheric conditions, as well as the weight of the aircraft itself. Heavy vehicles are more protected from this phenomenon. More precisely, the shaking in them is not felt so much.

Passengers should be aware that the aircraft crew always acts according to regulations. Sometimes a decision is made to force the plane to land. However, this does not mean that the ship is faulty. According to safety rules, the crew has the right to land the plane due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Rules of conduct on an airplane

Since turbulence is a natural phenomenon during flight, and air pockets are also common during flight, it is better to know how to act correctly to avoid injury. In some cases, it is impossible to influence the situation, but it is still possible to minimize the risks of serious injury.

1. You shouldn't leave seat when entering a turbulence zone.
2. Luggage located on the upper shelves must be well secured.
3. Unfastening your seat belts while shaking is strictly prohibited.
4. All instructions from personnel must be followed.

Air funnel - what is it?

Sometimes turbulence occurs when an airplane enters an area of ​​low pressure. Why are such phenomena dangerous?

Of course, the concept of “air pocket” is abstract. Why? There can be no holes in the air. But nevertheless, due to sudden changes in pressure, the plane suddenly begins to fall down. However, this is just how it feels. In fact, the plane falls into a downward air flow, which with its force pulls it down. In this case, the rate of ascent decreases. Then the reverse process occurs. The plane enters an updraft of air, which pushes it upward. The feeling from everything that is happening is extremely unpleasant. However, it is almost impossible to avoid such a phenomenon, since nature cannot be controlled. The only thing people can do is to increase the strength of the structure, carefully check the fastenings and mechanisms so that the aircraft can adequately cope with a difficult situation.

What to do if the plane gets into an air pocket?

To begin with, don't panic. This phenomenon is common; not a single flight over mountains or Pacific Ocean. However, passengers must internally prepare for it. You should not drink alcohol before or during the flight. If possible, you should stop taking medications. You should not read anything during the flight. It is better to drink water with lemon to cope with the feeling of nausea. The plane will not suffer much if it hits an air pocket, since according to all the rules, only fully corrected aircraft are allowed to fly. aircrafts. There are only a few known cases of plane crashes in the world due to a plane hitting a crater, but they still exist. In this case, it is better to overcome air pockets with prayer. Disasters are sometimes avoided, according to eyewitnesses. But the pilot is not always able to control the controls, and real trouble happens.

How to minimize risks when flying?

Since air pocketing is somewhat dependent on weather conditions, before flying an airplane, it is best to research how you can minimize the risk of uncomfortable conditions.

1. The best time to fly is early in the day. As a rule, wind, storm, thunderstorm or hail are unlikely to occur in the morning.
2. If possible, you should choose flights without stopovers.
3. You need to study the weather forecast in the places through which the plane will fly.
4. Find out the hotel numbers in the cities through which the plane will fly. If you suddenly have an emergency landing, you can quickly book a room at the nearest hotel.
5. Large planes are less dangerous. Even with strong shaking, it is quite comfortable to be inside them. Therefore, before flying, you should study what types of aircraft are offered by which airlines.
6. You should choose flights that fly frequently on your desired route. In this case, a favorable outcome is more likely if something goes wrong.

In this article we will look at why a plane can get into a bumpy situation and how turbulence differs from air pockets.

Turbulence and the plane getting into an air pocket are not the most pleasant moments of the flight, but they are remembered for a long time. When it hits an air pocket, the plane drops sharply several meters down. At this point, passengers can experience free flight, just like astronauts. It just doesn’t last long, usually no more than a second. The feeling of an airplane falling into an air pocket can be compared to the fact that while walking, taking another step, you did not notice that the surface of the earth was lower.

Illustration for the description of the comparison of the air pocket

This occurs due to the difference in density and speed of air flows. An airplane flying over the boundary between fast and slow flow runs the risk of falling into an air pocket (see picture below).

Airplane hitting air pocket

Turbulence is chaotic air flows, the same “chatter”. Erratic - because they often change their flow direction and this may be due to several factors:

• Change in atmospheric pressure
• Different temperatures of encountered air masses
• Jet air flow
• Behind the mountains, air is pushed to a height from behind the mountains (see picture)

Formation of turbulence

If you encounter turbulence, I advise you not to panic and follow all instructions of the aircraft commander and flight attendants. The situation is certainly not pleasant, but you shouldn’t be afraid of it. I wish you pleasant flights!

Many people are afraid to fly by plane. Psychologists say that there is even such a thing as “aerophobia.” Patients with this diagnosis experience real horror at the mere thought of taking to the air. The strongest negative emotions are caused by getting into air pockets and turbulence. Such moments are unpleasant even for those who are not afraid of flying. However, pilots claim that this is actually quite common. a natural phenomenon, which can be explained in scientific language, and it will not bring any harm to airline passengers. Today we decided to tell you what an air pocket really is, and whether you should be afraid of it.

Explanation of the term

It is quite difficult for an ordinary person to understand what an air pocket actually is. Everyone understands that there are no highways or road surfaces in the sky, and, therefore, there cannot be any potholes. For example, when it comes to driving a car, it is absolutely clear to anyone that there may be an obstacle or a hole on the road that an experienced driver will be able to steer around. But what if you find yourself in an air pocket? Is it possible to bypass it? And how dangerous is it? We will answer all these questions in the following sections of the article. But let's understand this difficult topic gradually.

Scientists have long found out that air flows are heterogeneous. They have different directions, temperatures and even densities. All this affects airliners flying on certain routes. In the case when the plane encounters flows of lower temperature on the way, a complete illusion of a short-term fall is created. Then we usually say that the ship fell into an air pocket. However, in reality this is just an illusion, which can be easily explained with the help of modern science.

Downward and upward flows

To understand how air pockets form, it is necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the movement of air currents. According to the laws of physics, heated air always rises, and cooled air falls down. Warm currents called ascenders, they always strive upward. And cold air is considered to be descending, and like a funnel, it pulls down everything that gets in its way.

It is precisely because of the movement of these flows that air pockets, so unloved by passengers, are formed during flight. They make travelers experience very unpleasant sensations that many cannot forget for a long time.

The principle of formation of air pockets

Despite the fact that the modern aircraft industry has long equipped its new airliners with an abundance of technological innovations designed to make the flight comfortable and safe, so far no one has been able to relieve passengers from the unpleasant sensations caused by descending air masses. So, the plane fell into an air pocket. What is happening to him at this moment?

Even during a flight in good conditions weather conditions The airliner may encounter a stream of cold air. Since it is descending, it begins to significantly slow down the aircraft’s ascent speed. It is noteworthy that in a straight line it goes with the same performance, but loses a little altitude. This usually only lasts a few moments.

The airliner then encounters an updraft, which begins to push it upward. This allows the aircraft to gain its previous altitude and continue flying normally.

Passengers' feelings

It is quite difficult for those who have never been trapped in air pockets to understand what airplane passengers feel. Typically, people complain that they experience stomach cramps, nausea rising in the throat, and even weightlessness that lasts a fraction of a second. All this is accompanied by the illusion of falling, which is perceived as realistically as possible. The combination of sensations leads to uncontrollable fear, which in the future does not allow most people to calmly endure flights and causes aerophobia.

Should we panic?

Unfortunately, not even the most highly professional pilot will be able to avoid the air pocket. It is impossible to fly around it, and even the make and class of the aircraft cannot protect passengers from unpleasant experiences.

Pilots claim that when the plane hits a downdraft, it temporarily loses control. But there is no need to panic because of this; such a situation lasts no more than a few seconds and, apart from unpleasant sensations, does not threaten travelers with anything.

However, you need to know that the airliner is under serious pressure in the air pocket. At this moment, the plane encounters “churning” or turbulence, which, in turn, adds to the unpleasant sensations for frightened passengers.

Briefly about turbulence

This phenomenon causes a lot of inconvenience to travelers, but in fact it is not dangerous and cannot lead to an airliner crash. It is believed that the load on an airplane during turbulence is no higher than on a car moving on a rough road.

A zone of turbulence is formed when air flows at different speeds meet. At this moment, vortex waves are formed, which cause “chatter”. It is noteworthy that on some routes turbulence occurs regularly. For example, when flying over mountains, the plane always shakes. Such zones can be quite long, and the “chumpiness” can last from several minutes to half an hour.

Causes of turbulence

We have already talked about the most common cause of bumpiness, but in addition to this, other factors can cause it. For example, an airliner flying ahead often contributes to the formation of vortices, and they, in turn, form a turbulence zone.

Not far from the surface of the earth, the air warms up unevenly, which is why vortex flows are created, which cause turbulence.

It is noteworthy that pilots compare flying in the clouds to driving on a highway with potholes and potholes. Therefore, in cloudy weather, passengers most often experience all the “delights” of flying in a shaking plane.

Dangers of Turbulence

Most passengers seriously believe that turbulence can compromise the seal of the cabin and lead to a crash. But in fact, this is the safest phenomenon of all. The history of air transportation does not know of a case when getting into a bumpy situation would lead to fatal consequences.

Aircraft designers always put a certain margin of safety into the aircraft body, which can easily withstand both turbulence and thunderstorms. Of course, such a phenomenon causes anxiety, unpleasant emotions and even panic among passengers. But in fact, you just need to calmly wait out this moment, without giving in to your own fear.

How to behave during a flight: a few simple rules

If you are very afraid of flying, and thoughts about air pockets and turbulence make you feel terrible, then try to follow a number of simple rules that will significantly ease your condition:

• do not drink alcohol during the flight, it will only aggravate unpleasant emotions;
• try to drink water with lemon, it will relieve attacks of nausea when you get into air pockets;
• before traveling, set yourself up in a positive mood, otherwise you will always be tormented by premonitions and negative emotions;
• be sure to fasten your seat belts; passengers may be injured while passing through the turbulence zone;
• If you are very afraid of flying, then choose larger aircraft models that are less sensitive to various types of shaking.

We hope that after reading our article, your fear of flying will become less acute, and your next air trip will be easy and enjoyable.

As a result of a violation of the normal conditions of air flow around the wing (flow separation from the wing).

Under conditions of normal air flow around the wing, sufficient lift is created and the aircraft behaves stably. If the normal flow around the wing is disrupted, the lift force drops sharply and the plane “falls out of the flow” - spontaneously changes pitch and roll angles (lowers/raises the nose, tilts sideways). A stall is likely to turn into a spin.

A stall is caused by exceeding the maximum permissible angles of attack, which can occur as a result of a drop in aircraft speed, operation of the rudders, changes in the density and direction of air flow, etc. The stall effect is used when performing aerobatic maneuvers on sports and military aircraft. IN civil aviation stalling is classified as an emergency and measures are taken to avoid it (special wing design, AUASP alarm, warning shaking of the steering wheel, etc.).

In the non-professional environment, stalling is more commonly known as an “air pocket.”

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See what “Air pocket” is in other dictionaries:

A sharp drop in securities prices after a negative information message. In English: Air pocket See also: Information asymmetry Financial Dictionary Finam... Financial Dictionary

English air pocket a sharp drop in securities prices after a negative message of a non-economic nature. Dictionary of business terms. Akademik.ru. 2001... Dictionary of business terms

- (Pocket air, air lock) a term to designate the supposed pits in which a sudden downward fall of the aircraft is observed, independent of the control of the aircraft. In fact, this fall is explained by vertical air currents, ... ... Marine Dictionary

air pocket- - [A.S. Goldberg. English-Russian energy dictionary. 2006] Energy topics in general EN downdraftDD ... Technical Translator's Guide

air pocket- A sharp change in air density, causing an unexpected throw of the aircraft in flight... Dictionary of Geography

- (English air pocket) (slang) a sharp drop in securities prices after an information message of a negative non-economic, for example political, nature... Encyclopedic Dictionary of Economics and Law

Jarg. exchanges. An unstable position in which stock values ​​find themselves with a sudden drop in their value. BS, 32. /i> From aviation terminology... Large dictionary of Russian sayings

air hole promotion- A stock whose price tends to fall sharply as a result of negative information appearing in the market, for example about an expected decrease in the yield of securities. Shareholders seek to free themselves from compromised securities and find... ... Financial and investment explanatory dictionary

PIT, pits, women. 1. A depression dug or formed in the ground. “A deep hole was dug with a spade.” I.Nikitin. Potato pit (for storing potatoes). Coal pit (for burning charcoal). Garbage pit. Cesspool. 2. Specially... ... Dictionary Ushakova

Noun, g., used. compare often Morphology: (no) what? pits, why? hole, (see) what? hole, what? pit, what about? about the pit; pl. What? pits, (no) what? yum, what? Yamam, (see) what? pits, what? pits, about what? about pits 1. A pit is a large depression in the ground. Deep,... ... Dmitriev's Explanatory Dictionary