Are you a nervous flyer? If so, you’ve probably wondered whether turbulence can damage the structure of a plane. Retired Virgin Atlantic pilot Pete Hutchison has the answer to that question. He explained that severe turbulence does not lead to structural failure of the aircraft. Planes have been tested many more times than the load that severe turbulence can bring to bear on an airplane in flight. The operating crew’s job is to keep the plane away from any of the cumulus clouds, big weather build-ups, and storms. The plane might bounce around a lot, but it’s much stronger than most people realize. As for the safest place to sit on a plane, Pete says that every seat is safe, but being by an exit is better than being far away from one. To minimize the effects of turbulence, you should sit right by the center of gravity, which is where the wings are. So, when it comes to turbulence, Pete says not to be anxious. "The plane is not going to fall out of the sky, the wings are not going to fall off, the engines are not going to stop, the pilots are not going to lose control of the airplane.” His advice is to chill out and let the airplane do its thing.
