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

In conditions of normal air flow around the wing, sufficient lift is created and the aircraft behaves steadily. If the normal flow around the wing is violated, the lift drops sharply and the aircraft "falls off the stream" - spontaneously changes the pitch and roll angles (lowers / lifts the nose, tilts sideways). A stall is very likely to go into a tailspin.

Stalling is caused by exceeding the maximum permissible angles of attack, which can occur as a result of a drop in aircraft speed, rudders, changes in the density and direction of air flow, etc. The stall effect is used when performing aerobatics 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, a stall is more commonly known as an "air pit".

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See what "Air Pit" is in other dictionaries:

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

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

- (Pocket air, air lock) is a term for supposed holes in which there is a sudden fall of the plane downward, independent of the control of the plane. In fact, this fall is due to vertical air currents, ... ... Marine dictionary

air pocket - - [A.S. Goldberg. The English Russian Energy Dictionary. 2006] Topics energy 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 ... Geography Dictionary

- (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

Zharg. exchanges. An unstable position in which stock values \u200b\u200bfind themselves with a sudden drop in their rate. BS, 32. / i\u003e From aviation terminology ... A large dictionary of Russian sayings

air pit promotion - A share, the price of which tends to fall sharply as a result of negative information on the market, for example, an expected decrease in the yield of securities. Shareholders seek to get rid of compromised securities and find ... ... Financial and investment explanatory dictionary

PITS, pits, wives. 1. A depression dug or formed in the ground. "A deep hole was dug by a spade." I. Nikitin. Potato pit (for storing potatoes). Coal pit (for burning charcoal). Waste pit. Cesspool. 2. Specially ... ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Noun, f., Uptr. cf. often Morphology: (no) what? pits, what? pit, (see) what? pit than? pit, about what? about the pit; pl. what? pits, (no) what? yam, what? yamam, (see) what? pits than? pits, about what? about pits 1. A pit is a large depression in the ground. Deep, ... ... Dmitriev's Explanatory Dictionary

Many people are afraid of flying. Psychologists say that there is even such a thing as "aerophobia". Patients with this diagnosis experience real horror at the mere thought of taking off. The strongest negative emotions are caused by getting into air pockets and turbulence. Such moments are unpleasant even for those who have no fear of flying. However, the pilots claim that in fact this is a completely common natural phenomenon that can be explained in scientific language, and it will not bring any trouble to the passengers of the airliner. Today we decided to tell you what an air pit really is, and whether it is worth being afraid of.

Explanation of the term

It is quite difficult for an ordinary person to understand what an air pocket really is. Everyone understands that there is no highway or road surface in the sky, and therefore there can be no holes. 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 can ditch. But what if you got into an air pit? Is it possible to pass 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 figured out that air flows are not uniform. They have different directions, temperatures and even densities. All this affects the airliners following certain routes. In the case when the plane encounters currents 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 hole. However, in reality, this is just an illusion that can be easily explained using modern science.

Downstream and upstream

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

It is because of the movement of these streams 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 the formation of air pockets

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

Even while flying in good weather conditions, the airliner can run into cold air. Since it is descending, it begins to significantly slow down the rate of climb of the aircraft. It is noteworthy that in a straight line it goes with the same indicators, but it loses a little height. This usually lasts only a few moments.

The airliner then encounters the updraft, which begins to push it upward. This allows the aircraft to return to its previous altitude and continue its normal flight.

The sensations of passengers

For those who have never fallen into air pockets, it is quite difficult to understand how aircraft passengers feel. Usually people complain that they experience stomach cramps, nausea coming up to the throat and even weightlessness lasting a fraction of a second. All this is accompanied by the illusion of falling, which is perceived as realistic as possible. The combination of sensations leads to uncontrollable fear, it is he who further does not allow most people to calmly endure flights and causes aerophobia.

Should you panic?

Unfortunately, none of the most highly professional pilots will be able to bypass the air pit. It is impossible to fly around it and even the make and class of the aircraft will not be able to save passengers from unpleasant impressions.

The pilots claim that the moment it enters the downdraft, the plane temporarily loses control. But you should not panic because of this, such a situation lasts no more than a few seconds and, apart from unpleasant sensations, does not threaten travelers.

However, you need to know that the airliner is under serious pressure in the air hole. At this point, the plane gets into "bumpiness" or turbulence, which, in turn, adds discomfort to frightened passengers.

Turbulence at a glance

This phenomenon gives travelers a lot of inconvenience, but in fact it is not dangerous and cannot lead to a crash of the airliner. It is believed that the loads on an aircraft during turbulence are no higher than on a car traveling on uneven roads.

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

Causes of turbulence

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

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

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

Dangers of turbulence

Most passengers in all seriousness believe that turbulence can compromise the tightness of the cabin and lead to a crash. But in fact, this is the safest thing possible. The history of air travel does not know a case when falling into a "bumpiness" would lead to fatal consequences.

Aircraft designers always put a certain margin of safety into the aircraft body, which will withstand both turbulence and thunderstorms quite calmly. 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, not succumbing to your own fear.

How to behave during the flight: a few simple rules

If you are very afraid of flying, and the thought of air pockets and turbulence makes you feel terrified, then try to follow a number of simple rules that will greatly facilitate your condition:

• do not drink alcohol during the flight, it will only aggravate unpleasant emotions;
• try to drink water with lemon, it will relieve bouts of nausea when it gets into air pockets;
• before the trip, set yourself up in a positive way, otherwise you will all the time suffer from premonitions and negative emotions;
• be sure to fasten your seat belts, while passing through the turbulence zone, passengers may be injured;
• if you are very much afraid of flying, then choose larger aircraft models that are less sensitive to various kinds 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.

19.02.2018, 12:56

Moving around on the ground, most people feel calm and confident. Having noticed a hole on the road, you can estimate its size, depth, predict the danger it poses, and take the necessary precautions. In the air, the situation is different, people are anxious. Air pockets during flight seem to be the most frightening, since uncertainty and lack of control over the situation are the main factors of fear. What is this phenomenon of air pockets, where do they come from, their features and how deep you can sink into them, we will tell you in more detail. Turbulence

Passengers are frightened when the plane suddenly starts tossing and shaking - a physical phenomenon called turbulence. It is absolutely harmless. There are different types of turbulence. Slight shaking may be felt when the aircraft passes through certain types of clouds. These are the air pockets. These phenomena are absolutely harmless. Accumulations of thunderclouds can subject the liner to more severe stress. However, such areas are easily identified by the locator. The pilot will not fly into an area with thunderclouds, he will try to go around them. Before each flight, the pilot must undergo a briefing and learn the weather report. Also, other aircraft talk on the radio about the turbulence zones, as the pilots call air pockets and turbulence among themselves, and the crew makes adjustments to the route.

How does the professionalism of the crew affect the comfort of the flight?

The jolt and its strength are independent of the skill, experience or qualifications of the pilot. The ship is piloted by autopilot for most of the flight. The size and speed of the aircraft can affect the amount of turbulence. Thus, passengers on large airliners experience less turbulence and air pockets.

Should you be afraid of air pockets, turbulence zones?

The influence of turbulence and air pockets must be taken into account when designing aircraft. The aircraft is designed to cope successfully with this kind of stress. Therefore, despite the unpleasant sensations, the described phenomena are not dangerous for people on board.

Precautionary measures

Turbulence and air pockets in an aircraft are not hazardous. Despite the turbulence and loss of height, all technical systems of the vessel will operate normally. However, during shaking, people can lose balance, fall, be injured. This is the main threat posed by holes in the air. Therefore, it is very important to observe safety precautions and obey crew commands. Be sure to follow the instructions "Return to your seat", "Fasten your seat belts." Stay in place during bumpiness. These simple precautions will help you avoid problems.

When the plane hits the air hole, it seems to the passenger that the plane is falling. In fact, this is a deception of one's own body; in reality, the plane shifts by less than a meter. The feeling of deep failure arises due to the fact that the vestibular apparatus of a person is not adapted for flying and cannot respond correctly. Also, because of the speed, all movements are felt especially strongly, for example, the crossing of a speed bump is felt differently at a speed of 10 and 80 km / h. That is, the size of the obstacle does not change, the speed changes, and it changes sensations.

Summing up

As you prepare to fly, remember that modern aircraft are safe transportation. Their design takes into account all possible external loads. Therefore, you should not be afraid of shaking. Air pockets and turbulent currents are natural widespread phenomena that do not pose the slightest threat to the liner and the health of passengers.

The moments that the passengers of the Moscow-Bangkok flight had to go through can be called, without exaggeration, creepy. The plane fell into a trap - what the pilots call "clear air turbulence." Fractures, injuries - people had a feeling that the plane began to fall. 27 people are injured, 15 of them remain in hospitals in Bangkok.

The first minutes after shaking. There is a terrible picture in the cabin of the plane. Bloody passengers lie in the aisles, sit at emergency exits. Many are asked not to get up - it is not known how serious the injuries are. As it turns out later, fractures, severe bruises.

“On one side was a woman, moaning, she was in great pain. And the man groaned. He was, apparently, doubly hurt. The girl, when it was already over, walked around the salon, her eye was blackened, her cheek was all torn. There were many such people who suffered greatly. Almost no one was fastened and did not have time to fasten, ”says passenger Elena Tregubets.

The plane had not yet begun its descent, so the “Fasten your seat belts” display was off. People calmly walked around the cabin - warming up in the aisles after a nine-hour flight. The Moscow-Bangkok flight was coming to an end. 40 minutes before landing - sharp tremors. The 300-ton Boeing-777 sank almost 250 meters into the air pit.

“We were swayed a lot two or three times. And somehow I immediately intuitively began to buckle up. And literally a couple of seconds, and as if we began to fall. And the passengers flew up to the ceiling, and everyone fell down with a crash, ”says Elena Tregubets.

At the airport, the plane was met by doctors. In total there were 313 people on board. 27 - including both Russians and foreigners - were immediately sent to a local hospital. There, some of the victims had to undergo operations. Embassy staff and an interpreter were sent to the hospital to help the Russians.

The weather in the sky over Thailand did not bode well. According to experts, the liner got into the so-called clear sky turbulence.

“It does not appear in the clouds, but in a clear sky with good visibility. And it is not fixed by devices. The main danger is that the crew has no way to warn passengers about the need to buckle up. This situation is extremely dangerous for passengers who are not wearing seat belts, ”explained Aeroflot.

Such turbulence occurs in the sky over Russia, but much weaker than in tropical latitudes.

“In tropical latitudes, it is more developed and characterized by very large gradients, that is, power and unpredictability. It was impossible to avoid this. Although we must keep our eyes on the alert, "- commented on the situation the squadron commander, pilot Sergei Matrosov.

Ideally, you should be wearing your seatbelt for the entire flight, like the crew of that flight. Job description. At the helm was an experienced pilot Alexander Ruzov, flying over 23 thousand hours. Co-pilot Artem Unanov - more than 10 thousand flying time. They took the car out of the turbulence zone and landed it normally. According to them, the shaking intensified due to the actions of the autopilot.

“The autopilot was unable to react correctly in time, which is why we got such airplane throws. Therefore, after falling into an air hole, we turned off the autopilot and gradually brought the plane into a horizontal, level flight, ”said Alexander Ruzov.

Travelers celebrated the work of flight attendants. They provided assistance and did everything to avoid panic. Although they themselves got pretty bad.

“It was clear from them that they were injured, they were also scratched, they were also not ready for this. They gave pain-relieving pills to those who suffered very badly, applied tourniquets, ”says Elena Tregubets.

Such cases are not uncommon in civil aviation. Almost 750 such incidents are recorded worldwide every year. 30 people were injured on an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi to Jakarta. And this is footage from the flight from Lima to Buenos Aires - even the crew members got it. But perhaps the loudest case is in the skies over Hong Kong. In August 2013, two airliners hit the turbulence zone at once. One of the passengers then punctured the plastic lining of the passenger compartment with his head. More than fifty people were taken to hospitals.

Passengers of the Moscow-Bangkok flight continue to receive assistance in Thai clinics. Nothing threatens their lives. A hotline was opened for relatives - by calling +66904033645 you can find out all the latest information about the condition of the victims. Meanwhile, it became known that all victims will receive compensation. In addition, they will be paid for treatment, reissuance of tickets and hotels.

At the same time, after landing, the airport services checked the Boeing itself, which had fallen into the air pit. No damage was found. The plane immediately went back to Moscow.

Travels

What is an air pit? Flight by plane

20 January 2016

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

Previously, flying on an airplane was completely subject to the captain's intuition, luck and experience. 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, can insure an aircraft from falling into thunderclouds, where, as a rule, lightning, hail, and an air hole await him. What is this phenomenon and is it worth to be afraid of?

What is turbulence?

Pilots call this "bumpiness". Some say it is an air pit. The plane staggers from side to side, and sometimes one gets the impression that it seems to bounce and flap its wings.

Surprisingly, turbulence can occur not only when an airplane hits a cloudy area. There is such a thing as clear air turbulence. But if the weather is calm, pressure and humidity are normal, then the temperature is evenly distributed in the air. These are ideal conditions for a safe flight. And if there are clouds in the sky, then this is already an indicator that there are temperature drops. Upward and downward air currents have different pressures. When the plane enters such zones, it starts to shake. Especially an air pit, or rather getting into it, is felt during a flight over mountains, oceans or the sea. But you should not be very afraid of this phenomenon, since modern aircraft were originally designed with all these points in mind.

What is the danger 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, getting into the turbulence zones, 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. Therefore, they always have a couple of additional detour routes in stock.

You should be aware that this phenomenon cannot cause any harm to the aircraft. It won't break, fall apart, or explode. But passengers in such an environment have a hard time. Those who, for one reason or another, have not fastened their seat belts can be especially affected. In this case, you can even seriously injure yourself.

Truth or myth?

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

Passengers should be aware that the crew of the aircraft always acts according to the standard. Sometimes a decision is made to make an emergency landing. However, this does not mean at all that the ship is out of order. According to safety rules, the crew has the right to land the plane due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Rules of conduct on the plane

Since turbulence is a natural phenomenon during flight, and air pockets are also common during flight, it is best to know how to act correctly so as not to get injured. In some cases, it is impossible to influence the situation, but it is still possible to minimize the risks of serious injury.

1. Do not leave the seat when entering a turbulence zone.
2. Luggage on the top bins must be well secured.
3. It is strictly forbidden to unfasten seat belts while shaking.
4. All instructions from personnel should be followed.

Air funnel - what is it?

Sometimes turbulence occurs when an airplane enters an area of \u200b\u200breduced pressure. Why are such phenomena dangerous?

Of course, the concept of an "air hole" is abstract. Why? There can be no holes in the air. But nevertheless, the plane begins to suddenly fall down from the sudden changes in pressure. However, it only feels like that. In fact, the plane falls into a descending air stream, which by its force pulls it down. In this case, the lifting speed decreases. Then the reverse process takes place. The aircraft is caught in an updraft, which pushes it upward. The feeling of everything that happens is extremely unpleasant. However, it is almost impossible to avoid such a phenomenon, since nature cannot be controlled. The only thing that 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 hole?

For starters, don't panic. This phenomenon is widespread, no flight over the mountains or the Pacific Ocean can do without it. However, passengers must prepare for it internally. You should not drink alcoholic beverages before or during the flight. If possible, you should stop taking medications. You don't need to read anything during the flight. It is best to drink lemon water to relieve nausea. The plane will not suffer much if it enters the air hole, since according to all the rules, only fully repaired aircraft are allowed to fly. In the world, only a few cases of plane crashes are known due to an aircraft hitting a funnel, but they are still there. In this case, it is better to overcome the air pockets with prayer. Disaster can sometimes be avoided, according to eyewitnesses. But the pilot can not always cope with the control, and real trouble happens.

How to minimize risks while flying?

Since getting into an air pocket is to some extent related to weather conditions, it is best to study how you can minimize the risk of uncomfortable conditions before flying in an airplane.

1. The best time to fly is early in the day. Typically, wind, storm, thunderstorm, or hail is unlikely in the morning.
2. If possible, you should choose flights without stopovers.
3. It is necessary to study the weather forecast in those 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 aircraft are less dangerous. Even with strong shaking, it is quite comfortable to be inside them. Therefore, before the flight, you should study what types of aircraft are offered by certain airlines.
6. You should choose flights that frequently fly the desired route. In this case, a favorable outcome is more likely if something goes wrong.