"That a plane breaks down due to turbulence is impossible"

BarcelonaEvery day – and even more so during the summer – thousands of users take a plane to go on holiday, for a business trip, or simply to go to a distant destination. However, for many of these travellers, the world of aviation is a great unknown. For this reason, Èric Besora (@a320cat), commander and instructor of A320 aircraft, decided to start disseminating information about the sector in Catalan through his social networks and currently has almost 30,000 followers between Instagram and Twitter. “I explain curiosities about the world of aviation, I answer questions from my followers, and I give my point of view on the news that breaks, such as when there are accidents,” Besora assures in conversation with l’ARA.

Regarding the day-to-day life of a pilot, the commander and disseminator explains that it depends a lot on the type of route assigned: for example, the day-to-day life of those who fly intercontinental flights is not the same as those who fly shorter distances, who usually make more than one trip per day. In fact, on long-haul flights, the crew has more than two pilots so they can rest. “An example is the pilot flight that a few weeks ago flew for 24 consecutive hours, from London to Sydney, where there were four pilots who rotated,” he recounts.

Furthermore, Besora explains that not all pilots can fly any aircraft: to fly each model, a specific course must be taken. He, for example, can fly the entire A320 family of aircraft. The disseminator also details that pilots do not always work on exactly the same aircraft, but rather they may be assigned a different one each day.

The main fears

Although the probabilities are very remote, having a plane accident is an intrusive thought that many have before traveling. But, what are the most dangerous moments of the trip? As Besora explains, takeoff and landing are the most critical moments. “Being in contact with the ground, any error can be more disastrous,” assures the pilot, who adds that, for example, in case of experiencing an engine problem while already in the air, planes are capable of continuing to fly with one engine. On the other hand, if it happens during takeoff, the aircraft may have problems gaining altitude. Losing both engines is also really complicated. As the communicator explains, “it is less likely to win the lottery twice.”

On the other hand, Besora explains that turbulence does not pose any real danger: “For a plane to break down due to turbulence right now is impossible.” Furthermore, he assures that pilots already know the areas where turbulence tends to be more aggressive, and what they do is avoid them. “But even at these points, the planes would not fall,” he says. Thus, he explains that when, recently, there have been accidents due to turbulence, it has always been due to blows or fear, not because the plane could crash. The communicator also assures that the front rows are the best for those who are afraid: “The further forward, the less turbulence is noticed.”

Regarding whether activating airplane mode is really necessary, Besora explains that it cannot be answered with certainty, as it has never been tested. However, he also adds that in case someone did not activate it, they would not have coverage either.