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 …
Should I be worried about flying in bad weather? Read More »
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? …