GREENER SKIES AHEAD – From lighter aircraft to cleaner fuels, here is how aviation is becoming more sustainable Not long ago, the idea of flying in an environmentally-friendly plane sounded like science fiction. But today, as climate change becomes a global concern, the aviation industry is making big changes to reduce its impact. From smarter …
UNDERSTANDING TURBULENCE Turbulence in the skies is a much-dreaded phenomenon when flying. But what exactly is it and how does one ride it out safely? Captain Lim Khoy Hing explains. Turbulence is a sudden, unsteady movement of air. To simplify it, imagine driving a car on a bumpy road. Turbulence is the aerial equivalent of …
Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER Photo credit: N509FZ( https://tinyurl.com/5hnmz5vp) 62 Seconds of Deadly Severe Turbulence Last week, one passenger died and about 30 passengers were injured when a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 encountered severe turbulence over the Irrawaddy Delta, Myanmar. The Singapore Ministry of Transport TSIB just released a preliminary a report that the rapid changes …
A SIA Boeing 777-300ER taking off at Zurich Photo Credit: Aero Icarus (https://tinyurl.com/3b5zy4b5) The Boeing 777 severe encounter with turbulence On May 21, a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 diverted to Bangkok and made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport after encountering severe turbulence, leaving one dead and about 30 injured. Reuters reported that the …
Eruptions of Volcano Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland Photo Credit: Boaworm (https://tinyurl.com/5n6e5udc) Flight risks with volcanic ash after eruptions Anxious moments arose when a warning came that volcanic ash will soon sweep over the Malaysian airspace due the recent volcanic eruptions. This main eruption happened at Mount Ruang on April 16, 2024 in North Sulawesi, Indonesia and …
Image: Wikipedia Picture of a hurricane taken from a satellite How do airplanes fly in hurricanes? Gabriel Joseph from Quora is looking for an answer to the above question. I believe Gabriel is referring to commercial airliners rather than airplanes from ‘storm chasers’. For commercial pilots, it would be madness to fly in hurricanes because …
Photo: 123RF Lightning strikes on a plane What happens when lightning strikes a plane? Asmiati Utari from Quora asks, “Can thunder strike a plane?” I think the question should be rephrased by replacing the word ‘thunder’ with ‘lightning’. This is because, without lightning, there would be no thunder. Lightning is a discharge of electricity …
‘Depression 29’ with strong winds and rain over the Klang Valley in Malaysia. Is flying in the rain and wind safe? Emily G from Quora asks the above interesting question. Five days ago, ‘Depression 29’ brought heavy rain into the Klang Valley in Malaysia. It lasted for over 24 hours and recorded 363 millimeters of …
Image: India Meteorological Department Turbulence around Bay of Bengal Should I be worried about flying in bad weather? To some air travelers, bumpiness in the skies or turbulence is a major concern to them. A journalist friend recently asked me about these on her forthcoming journey. I had demonstrated a simulated turbulent flight aboard a …
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Some air travellers describe their encounter with air pockets as dropping thousands of feet. I have often explained that the experience is similar to travelling on land where a smooth road suddenly gives way to bumps and potholes, making the journey a little uncomfortable. Plane above the clouds Image: GETTY WHAT IS AN AIR POCKET? …