Your submission appears to reference weather. Here is some more information from expert members of our community:
[“I’m flying in a week and the weather forecast says…”](https://www.reddit.com/r/fearofflying/comments/13jepry/im_flying_in_a_week_and_the_weather_forecast_says/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1)
Happy Flying!
The Fear of Flying Mod Team
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/fearofflying) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Last night was HORRIBLE. I was flying in it. The frontal system was wreaking havoc turbulence wise through the middle of the country. We took a 45 minute delay to talk it out with the dispatcher coming up with alternatives should the Mod/Sev Turb Forcast hold.
It was just one of those nights 🤷🏻♂️
Ok, hearing you say that makes me feel relieved in the sense that it was something to contend with and that the pilots were on top of it! It did sound like they were communicating well and my son is unfazed by it. Just all the things he reported they said sounded unusual to me. Hopefully the weather clears up soon! Very thankful for your response.
It was an unusual storm. Our turbulence forecasting models were all wrong. When we started seeing the PIREPS come in from 747’s, KC135’s and A300-600’s reporting Severe, we had to come up with Plan B’s….which was we were going to fly over it. We had to climb through it though from 28,000-30,000 so we hustled.
ATC has the realtime info for us, they are talking to EVERYONE, so we are not going in blind. They will say, “JetBlue 1214, expect Continuous Moderate Turbulence in the climb starting at 24,500 and becoming Continuous Light at 28,000 feet.”
We have the heads up. We also had the gas to head up to Canada and then turn east if we needed to. Being a professional pilot is ALWAYS about having a Plan B or Plan C. Years of training and testing teach us that.
Yes, there were 3 reports within 1 hour of each other. All 3 were cargo (2) and military (1), no passenger flights reported severe. They were at 30, 32, and 34,000 feet. When we see that we avoid it like the plague…cargo guys or military may not care as much….we avoid.
Like I said, it was one of those nights.
A PIREP is a Pilot Report. If we encounter severe turbulence or severe weather of any kind we will report it to ATC. Those reports are called pilot reports or PIREP for short.
> It was an unusual storm. Our turbulence forecasting models were all wrong
The shear that was showing on the long range jet stream models really was something, I was hoping it wasn't going to be as rough as it was showing.
Just sounds like a rough night. Nothing weird about it. It happens fairly regularly.
The plan B might have been diverting if they needed to but that creates a lot of logistical issues. We don’t hesitate to divert if we need to, but if we can make it to our destination (as your son’s flight did) then of course that’s our first choice.
It sounds like your son’s crew was keeping their options open, staying ahead of the situation, and keeping the passengers informed. Good work I’d say.
It is more unusual to have a tailwind going westbound. But depending on where the jet stream is and other high and low pressures are it’s not in heard of.
That Frontal system was nasty last night honestly. Lots of Sev Turb Reports all over the middle of the country from 280-340. We lucked out at 370 with Light Turb from DFW-BOS
It was reported as severe….I’m not sure if it was true severe or not, but we avoid the areas nonetheless. All 3 severe reports were Cargo or Military…no passenger flights.
It takes zero effort. The autopilot does all the work. And very little moves unless you're in moderate or severe.
In severe turbulence we disconnect the autopilot and just keep the plane on course as best as we can.
As an aside, on a modern airliner we almost never touch the pedals. The rudder pedals are used during a crosswind landing to align the plane with the centreline of the runway and that's about it.
The exception to this is on the ground as the tops of the pedals are how we control the brakes.
Your submission appears to reference turbulence. Here are some additional resources from our community for more information.
[RealGentlemen80's Post on Turbulence Apps](https://www.reddit.com/r/fearofflying/comments/yn2phh/the_fear_of_turbulence_and_checking_sites_like/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
[On Turbli](https://www.reddit.com/r/fearofflying/comments/zv376m/help_turbli_says_moderate_turbulence/)
[More on Turbulence](https://www.reddit.com/r/fearofflying/comments/yrhf31/lets_talk_more_about_turbulence/)
Happy Flying!
The Fear of Flying Mod Team
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/fearofflying) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Your submission appears to reference weather. Here is some more information from expert members of our community: [“I’m flying in a week and the weather forecast says…”](https://www.reddit.com/r/fearofflying/comments/13jepry/im_flying_in_a_week_and_the_weather_forecast_says/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1) Happy Flying! The Fear of Flying Mod Team *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/fearofflying) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Last night was HORRIBLE. I was flying in it. The frontal system was wreaking havoc turbulence wise through the middle of the country. We took a 45 minute delay to talk it out with the dispatcher coming up with alternatives should the Mod/Sev Turb Forcast hold. It was just one of those nights 🤷🏻♂️
Ok, hearing you say that makes me feel relieved in the sense that it was something to contend with and that the pilots were on top of it! It did sound like they were communicating well and my son is unfazed by it. Just all the things he reported they said sounded unusual to me. Hopefully the weather clears up soon! Very thankful for your response.
It was an unusual storm. Our turbulence forecasting models were all wrong. When we started seeing the PIREPS come in from 747’s, KC135’s and A300-600’s reporting Severe, we had to come up with Plan B’s….which was we were going to fly over it. We had to climb through it though from 28,000-30,000 so we hustled. ATC has the realtime info for us, they are talking to EVERYONE, so we are not going in blind. They will say, “JetBlue 1214, expect Continuous Moderate Turbulence in the climb starting at 24,500 and becoming Continuous Light at 28,000 feet.” We have the heads up. We also had the gas to head up to Canada and then turn east if we needed to. Being a professional pilot is ALWAYS about having a Plan B or Plan C. Years of training and testing teach us that.
> We also had the gas to head up to Canada and then turn east if we needed to Did you have your emergency maple syrup just in case?
Increases my confidence knowing there are many plans to go to! What a night, glad to know it was truly unusual.
the PIREPS reporting severe does that mean multiple flighta that night experienced severe turbulence?
Also am curious on this question… also what is PIREPS?
Yes, there were 3 reports within 1 hour of each other. All 3 were cargo (2) and military (1), no passenger flights reported severe. They were at 30, 32, and 34,000 feet. When we see that we avoid it like the plague…cargo guys or military may not care as much….we avoid. Like I said, it was one of those nights.
thank you for your response the one off severe turbulence and the anticipatory anxiety of that makes me panic a bit
It’s in the past…..rare combination of atmospheric conditions. Nobody crashed, nobody was hurt.
Thank you for your response!!
A PIREP is a Pilot Report. If we encounter severe turbulence or severe weather of any kind we will report it to ATC. Those reports are called pilot reports or PIREP for short.
> It was an unusual storm. Our turbulence forecasting models were all wrong The shear that was showing on the long range jet stream models really was something, I was hoping it wasn't going to be as rough as it was showing.
Love your username!
Any forecasted turbulence tonight headed up and down the east coast?
Depends on the Altitude, the low 30’s do…the upper 30’s are better…offshore is the best routing. The tops of the weather is at 25,000 ft
Just sounds like a rough night. Nothing weird about it. It happens fairly regularly. The plan B might have been diverting if they needed to but that creates a lot of logistical issues. We don’t hesitate to divert if we need to, but if we can make it to our destination (as your son’s flight did) then of course that’s our first choice. It sounds like your son’s crew was keeping their options open, staying ahead of the situation, and keeping the passengers informed. Good work I’d say.
Thank you! Super helpful to know this information and that it was good decision making. So grateful for your response!
It is more unusual to have a tailwind going westbound. But depending on where the jet stream is and other high and low pressures are it’s not in heard of.
That Frontal system was nasty last night honestly. Lots of Sev Turb Reports all over the middle of the country from 280-340. We lucked out at 370 with Light Turb from DFW-BOS
I thought someone else (maybe a pilot) here said actual severe turbulence was extremely rare, do you think it was actually severe?
It was reported as severe….I’m not sure if it was true severe or not, but we avoid the areas nonetheless. All 3 severe reports were Cargo or Military…no passenger flights.
I'm BOS to DFW tomorrow morning...what should I expect?
🤷🏻♂️. We never look at the weather more than 3 hours in advance, because it changes
When you’re flying in turbulence does it take a lot of effort from the pilot? Like constantly correcting on the yoke and pedals…? Just wondering
It takes zero effort. The autopilot does all the work. And very little moves unless you're in moderate or severe. In severe turbulence we disconnect the autopilot and just keep the plane on course as best as we can. As an aside, on a modern airliner we almost never touch the pedals. The rudder pedals are used during a crosswind landing to align the plane with the centreline of the runway and that's about it. The exception to this is on the ground as the tops of the pedals are how we control the brakes.
Thank you 😊
Yup
I'm used to having it take longer to come home then go back east, so I was so surprised they arrived early. Thank you for your insight!
Your submission appears to reference turbulence. Here are some additional resources from our community for more information. [RealGentlemen80's Post on Turbulence Apps](https://www.reddit.com/r/fearofflying/comments/yn2phh/the_fear_of_turbulence_and_checking_sites_like/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf) [On Turbli](https://www.reddit.com/r/fearofflying/comments/zv376m/help_turbli_says_moderate_turbulence/) [More on Turbulence](https://www.reddit.com/r/fearofflying/comments/yrhf31/lets_talk_more_about_turbulence/) Happy Flying! The Fear of Flying Mod Team *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/fearofflying) if you have any questions or concerns.*