Free illustrated PDF · 15 pages

Turbulence & Aircraft Sounds Explained by an Airline Captain

Know exactly what's happening on your next flight, from pushback to parking.

  • What turbulence really is, and why it feels worse than it is
  • Every normal sound in order, including the "barking dog"
  • What pilots do when it gets bumpy
  • A one-page calm toolkit for flight day
Aircraft wing above the clouds at golden hour

Why I wrote it

After more than twenty years of flying, I've noticed that nervous passengers are rarely scared of flying itself. They're scared of what they don't understand: a sudden bump, a strange whine, the engines going quiet after take-off.

This guide puts the answers in your pocket. Print it, save it to your phone, and read it at the gate.

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