Buckle up to ensure safety during turbulence: captain

"To all airplane passengers, my advice is simple: buckle up. Keep you and your family safe by wearing a seatbelt while seated, even if the seatbelt sign is off," writes associate professor Alberto Bernabeo, senior program manager in aviation at RMIT Vietnam.

I started flying when I was 15 years old. With over 10,000 flight hours logged as an airline captain and instructor, I have experienced my fair share of turbulence.

The first thing I learnt from my first captain is that as pilots, we need to fasten our safety belts and ensure the strap is across the shoulder and lap. Unfortunately, this option is not available to passengers for various reasons.

Why do seatbelts matter? Seatbelts on airplanes restrain and protect you during critical phases of flights and turbulence. The seatbelt is intended to be worn low and tight across the hips, not the abdomen, to prevent injuries and effectively limit the body’s forward motion. Always pay attention when the seat belt sign is on.

Pilots are aware of the weather ahead and conditions that can cause turbulence, although unexpected turbulence, such as clear air turbulence, can be a challenge even for experienced pilots. Changes in weather and climate are causing more extreme weather events all over the world.

When I started to fly in Europe, the maximum peak of the clouds used to be at 28,000 feet (8,534.4 m). Now, it is common to encounter clouds at 40,000 feet (12,192 m) or higher, especially near the Equator in the Intertropical Zone, which is almost at the top of the troposphere.

This is due to the high energy in the lower troposphere, which is causing extreme events like Cumulonimbus thunderstorms. These storms affect people on the ground and us in the air. When pilots need to avoid bad weather conditions or closely clustered thunderstorm cells (a series of high-energy Cumulonimbus), it is crucial to fasten your seat belt properly and maybe even hold the armrest to ensure you stay secure.

It is easy to say, but sometimes difficult to practice. Depending on your experience with flying, try to stay as calm and relaxed as possible, and always listen to the cabin crew's instructions.

Sometimes, pilots will alert passengers via public announcements about upcoming adverse weather conditions. Unfortunately, many passengers do not pay attention to these warnings, like how they often use mobile phones or unbuckle their seatbelts during the landing approach.

Also, remember not to use mobile phones unless the cabin crew says so. Until you are safely on the ground and parked, there is not much we can do as passengers.

Your safety is the priority for all airlines around the world. Just keep in mind and follow some simple instructions to prevent any injury to you and others travelling with you.

A 73-year-old British passenger died and 71 people were injured when their Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence last Tuesday, throwing passengers and crew around the cabin and forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in Bangkok.

The Boeing 777-300ER was about 10 hours into its flight and midway through meal service when it hit turbulence while flying over Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Basin, according to the airline.