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Latam Airlines SYD to AKL flight: 50 people treated after mid-air incident

rnz.co.nz

81–90 of 158 posts

Re: Latam Airlines SYD to AKL flight: 50 people treated after mid-air incident

#81
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I was 5 or 6 years old I was flying-sitting with my dad, as passengers, though he was an airline pilot, when we hit a pocket of "dead" air. Meals and drinks were just served. For what was at least 3-5 seconds all of the meal trays floated up, hovered and then thankfully relatively gently settled back down. My dad estimated we dropped 200 feet or so.

You've, technically, eaten food that was at zero gravity once for a short period of time.

Hehe. Thanks for that perspective.

Re: Latam Airlines SYD to AKL flight: 50 people treated after mid-air incident

#82
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I was 5 or 6 years old I was flying-sitting with my dad, as passengers, though he was an airline pilot, when we hit a pocket of "dead" air. Meals and drinks were just served. For what was at least 3-5 seconds all of the meal trays floated up, hovered and then thankfully relatively gently settled back down. My dad estimated we dropped 200 feet or so.

You've, technically, eaten food that was at zero gravity once for a short period of time.

Free-fall isn't zero-gravity, and anyone who observes the five-second rule has had a similar experience.

Re: Latam Airlines SYD to AKL flight: 50 people treated after mid-air incident

#83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the half dozen (European) airlines I’ve flown, it’s always been “seatbelts are recommended at all times”. Never a requirement.

Surely required on takeoff/landing?

Absolutely at takeoff, but the emphasis is often missing for the remainder of your time onboard. It's noticeable when crew add extra reminders.

I've never looked for stats on these incidents involving clear air turbulence. The impression I got as a European was that this was a transatlantic and transpacific problem. It's obviously not, but those were the incidents reported on.

Re: Latam Airlines SYD to AKL flight: 50 people treated after mid-air incident

#86
post #75
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a Boeing, that's not really how it works. What airplane refuses to let you do negative gs anyway?

Both 777 and 787 are full fly by wire, with the latter being unstable without computer help due to trimming of control surface sizes for greater fuel efficiency.

For some reason I didn't think it switched laws, it was just on or off. Maybe that was for the 777 instead?

Re: Latam Airlines SYD to AKL flight: 50 people treated after mid-air incident

#87

Not turbulence related. Plane (Boeing 787-9) lost instrumentation according to the captain, followed by rapid loss of altitude. When instrumentation came back, flight continued to a safe landing. 12 people were sent to hospital. S always, see avherald.com for the most reliable, non-speculative info.

Let's rephrase that as, this is the story as relayed by one of the passengers to RNZ. If non-speculative info is what you're after, perhaps it's better to wait for the official report.

The captain has been quoted with that info of loss of instrumentation and that is on the avherald page. Avherald is quite known for only handing out vetted information, so I do trust this to be true.

Re: Latam Airlines SYD to AKL flight: 50 people treated after mid-air incident

#88
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the seatbelt-sign is outdated. Somehow it should be made clear that if a sign is on, it is not allowed to stand up and move around, and the general rule is that the seatbelt must be locked while sitting.

In my 5 decades of flying regularly (US-based flights), this is made crystal clear by flight attendants and repeated PA announcements.

It needs to be safe and clear by design, not confusing to the point where systematic PA announcements are needed to clarify the fact that "seat belt sign is off" actually means "you should wear your seatbelt".

Re: Latam Airlines SYD to AKL flight: 50 people treated after mid-air incident

#90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You've, technically, eaten food that was at zero gravity once for a short period of time.

Free-fall isn't zero-gravity, and anyone who observes the five-second rule has had a similar experience.

Yes it is, didn't Einstein say that gravity and acceleration are indistinguishable
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