As a flight attendant for a major airline, I see and hear a lot from passengers. Some of the horror stories that I have heard from the Senior Flight Attendants, all the way to my own stories. As much as I would like to remember most of my encounters, or most encounters from other Flight Attendants (which I can’t), it just amazes me that people literally scream and yell at airline agents, flight attendants, pilots, or anyone because an airplane is delayed due to weather.

I’m not sure if you are aware, but when there is a storm, airplanes have to be re-routed around the storm to avoid turbulence, and possible up-drafts and down-drafts by the storm. If you ever watch the weather on the news, they always talk about the cold and warm fronts, or how the storm is very unstable and they don’t know what the storm is going to do, such as, tornado’s, heavy down pours, or even hail.

Back when airlines ran their mail runs, they figured that if they could transport mail efficiently, they could transport people. When this happened, the airlines quickly found out that their passengers were getting sick because of the turbulent weather. Then, the airplanes could only top out around 7-10,000ft. This is where most of the storms or clouds accumulate. The airlines would then put the baggage boys on the planes to help with the passengers, they were quickly named “Stewards”. Very quickly they realized that they needed nurses to aid the passengers. Something the “Stewards” could not do. Then, the majority of nurses were females. This started the career for “Stewardesses”. (later dropped in the 70s when males were hired, and the term Flight Attendants started)

Back to the weather, over time and unfortunately, many weather related accidents, the airlines along with Air Traffic Control (ATC) realized in order to keep aircraft safe, and passengers at ease, they would need to increase the altitude of where the aircraft flew. The aircraft manufacturers tested many planes and realize that the air was smoother at higher altitudes. There are some areas of turbulence where it just happens without notice, but for the most part, it was smoother air above the clouds (which are ice formations)

When radar was introduced to the aviation industry, it helped considerably to know where an airplanes general location was. It could take a radar beacon nearly 1 minute for it to do a full rotation in order to get ‘ping’ from an aircrafts location. Since it took so long, the ATC had to separate the planes (which is still in effect today). When there is weather, the ATC puts a wider separation because of the weather. Just like having DirecTV or Dish Network, when there is a storm, your reception isn’t as good as when there is clear sky. Same thing with planes and that ‘ping’ it could take the ATC a second swipe to get a reading of where the plane is, so they separate the planes.

There have been too many fatal accidents involving small aircraft in weather. Pilots are taught that it’s better to wait out a storm rather than try to push ahead. This is even evident with large commercial aircraft accidents. Little Rock, AK, Toronto, Canada, and Buffalo, NY come to mind of recent accidents during severe weather.

It doesn’t matter that there was an accident or incident, people just want to get to where they want to go...which I do too, however, I’d rather be safe on the ground, wishing I was in the sky, rather being in the sky wishing I was on the ground. However people don’t understand this. Today’s passenger just wants to go. They don’t care about their own safety.

I was on a Boeing 767-200 trying to land into John F. Kennedy International Airport one time. We were delayed due to weather. We even circled for about an hour because the storm was directly over the airport. When it was our turn to descend, it was NOT fun. We were bouncing around like a sack of potato’s in the back of a farmer’s truck. I was sitting in the front, which for the most part stays calmer/smoother than the back of the aircraft. While I was bouncing up front, I called to the back to see how they (the Flight Attendants) were doing. They were not doing good. They were being forced against their seat-belts as we were descending through the clouds. We all would be pushed up due to the plane being pushed down from the down-drafts, then pushed down as the plane was being pushed up from the up-drafts.

I finally heard the gear come down, which was a good sign that we were less than 2,500ft and airport was in site. However we kept bouncing around really bad. After about 30 seconds, I heard the gear come up and then full power to the engines, we were going around. The Captain came on the P.A. shortly afterwards and said that he did not feel safe landing the plane as turbulent it was. (whew, I feel much safer that he wants to go around)

After another attempt, going through the same crappy weather, we averted the landing and diverted to Washington Dulles International Airport just outside of Washington, D.C. After refueling and getting back into the air, our 30 minutes flight turned into 2hrs. Same thing, bouncing around like a bag of potato’s again, so we diverted to Hartford, CT and off-loaded the passengers.

Every single passenger was PISSED that we didn’t land at JFK. WHAT????!!!?? Were they just not on the same plane I was on that was bouncing around the sky like a ping-pong ball being tossed back and forth? Sure, we’re not where we are supposed to be, but at least we are safe and on the ground! (again, Little Rock, Toronto, and Buffalo come to mind about accidents involving weather)

Most of the flying public don’t realize that there are safety precautions for their own sake. I don’t want to be a statistic because a pilot chose to rush the storm. Sure, pilots learn in the future about accidents from the past. So does the FAA in sending out notices of how to correct future mistakes. I don’t want to be involved in a ‘mistake’.

I’m just saying.

Tags: Rain, Snow, Sleet, Hail, Fog, Sun, Wind