Jakarta, hitclubapk3 Indonesia
—
Moment
plane
Taking off is often the biggest cause of anxiety for passengers, especially for those who are afraid of flying.
The sensation at the start of the flight, when the plane feels like it is losing power or even as if it is falling, turns out to be just an illusion caused by the inner ear’s response to technical changes in the plane.
According to data from the International Air Transport Association, around 20 percent of the more than 4 billion airplane passengers each year experience some level of flight anxiety.
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An Airbus A350 pilot and trainer, Simon (@flyman_simon) via his Instagram account, explained why passengers felt panicked after the plane took off.
Commercial jet aircraft, such as the Airbus A350 which weighs more than 300 tons, require thrust (
thrust
) maximum for takeoff from the runway.
However, shortly after taking off, passengers will hear the sound of the engine fading, and the nose of the plane appearing to drop slightly.This situation creates the illusion that the plane is descending or falling.
“The feeling of ‘falling’ after takeoff is just a sensation, not an actual descent. After takeoff, we reduce the thrust and make the climb easier so that the plane can accelerate,” explained Simon, as reported
Mirrors
.
He continued, when the nose of the plane drops slightly and the engine sound becomes quieter, the pilot is carrying out a series of important actions:
1. Reducing Thrust: Reduces engine power after a certain height is reached.
2. Retracting Flaps and Slats: These components retract inward to make the aircraft more aerodynamic and efficient.
3. Acceleration: The aircraft now begins to increase forward speed (acceleration) to reach cruising altitude.
At the same time, the passenger’s inner ear is sensitive to the tilt of the plane’s nose and the decrease in pitch of the engine sound.The ear mistakenly reads this combination of changes as decreasing altitude or falling, when in fact the aircraft is climbing and accelerating.
Apart from aerodynamic efficiency reasons, this reduction in thrust is also carried out for secondary reasons, namely reducing airport noise.
“So we create less noise for people living under our flight path, and to maintain the engines by not using high power for longer than necessary,” added Simon.
Once this illusory sensation passes, passengers will feel the aircraft speed increase again and the climb to cruising altitude will continue steadily.
“So when it feels like falling, remind yourself: we’re climbing, the plane is getting leaner and quieter, and you’re on your way,” concluded Simon.
(ana/wiw)
[Gambas:hitclubapk3 Video]
