Today, GoPro announced the latest edition of their popular cameras with the release of the Hero4 series. If you thought these cameras already packed a punch just wait until you take a peek at this new edition.
The company released three new cameras: The HERO4, with two levels of awesomeness called Black and Silver and a new budget-friendly option aptly named the HERO.
The HERO4 Black is the flagship of the bunch, delivering the next level of GoPro image quality, versatility and performance for professional photographers, videographers and action sports junkies.
The HERO4 Silver sets the new standard for ease-of-use with first built-in touch display. That’s right, no longer will you need to purchase the LCD Touch BacPac™ as it comes built-in with this model.
If you are looking for the perfect entry-level GoPro, look no further than the new HERO. This no-frills version still comes packed with enough features for the novice yet at the most affordable pricing ever.
Designed with simplicity in mind and built directly into a rugged, waterproof housing, HERO captures high-quality 1080p video at 30fps and 720p video at 60fps.
HERO captures the same eye-popping footage that’s made GoPro one of the best-selling cameras in the world at a retail price of just $129.99 USD firmly positioning it as the affordable option.
If that’s not enough to get your adrenaline pumping you might want to watch their latest promo video below!
Our intrepid explorers Mike and Alex were on a bike tour in a rough part of Buenos Aires during their recent trip to South America when a thief on a motorbike attempted to steal Alex’s expensive camera gear at gunpoint.
The entire incident was caught on the GoPro camera mounted on his forehead. The video has since gone viral with over 5 million views in the first 48 hours and media coverage worldwide. Not quite the exposure that the boys were looking for but a great way to take a bad situation and make it positive.
Situations like this happen all over the world but a little common sense goes a long way to ensuring your safety.
1. Make sure you don’t advertise that you are carrying expensive equipment. A lesson that can be used in everyday life and not just travel.
2. Always take out travel insurance and give the assailant what they want. Your life is far more valuable than any material good.
3. Learn some very basic phrases if you don’t speak the local language. While Alex may not have been able to understand what the assailant was saying, a basic phrase like “I’m sorry I don’t speak (insert language)” would have been helpful.
When planning a trip most backpackers spend hours and hours scouring the internet in search of any deal that can save them a few bucks. All this effort yet the moment the step onto foreign soil they spend unnecessary money, wasting cash in ways that are easily avoidable.
Today we want to help you stop the bleeding from your wallet and show you how you can save some hard earned money by simply not spending it in the first place. We have compiled a list of ten common expenses that you can easily avoid.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the top 15 U.S. airlines pocketed over $3.35 billion in checked bag fees in 2013. That is an insane amount of money that we are just throwing down the drain. There is no real reason for most people to be checking luggage these days. Before you travel, take a look on the airline’s website and see what their weight restrictions are, then pack smart in your carry-on and you should never have to worry about these fees again.
If for some reason you do need to check your bag, do some research. Many airlines allow 1 free checked bag, especially if you are a member of their frequent flyer program. If you are moving overseas you can often save some money on airline fees by shipping stuff over.
Unless you are traveling to the far reaches of the earth you should be able to find a free WiFi hotspot. First point of call should be your hotel or hostel, simply ask at reception for the password. If they don’t give you free access try the local library as most will offer up a connection these days.
Otherwise head for the local food court, cafe or fast food joint. McDonalds is one of the easiest places to surf the web in the comfort of a nice booth.
Yes, we agree that reading a good book is a great way to pass the time when you are traveling but buying a guide like Lonely Planet is something you simply don’t need to do anymore. In this modern day and age you can hold 10,000 songs on a device not much bigger than a credit card. You can also hold thousands of travel guides or books on a tablet. There are tons of travel sites that allow you to download free destination guides and even more apps on offer. Simply pick your favorites and away you go.
If you really love the old-school feel of a book, visit a local library. Many hostels will have their own small selection of books that you can use. Just remember to leave it for the next person.
Looking for something great to read next? Check out the 52 Best Books for Travelers.
In the spur of the moment we all make some questionable purchases. While it may seem like a great idea at the time, no one really wants that snow globe or tacky keyring. If you must, send a postcard with a nice note. Your friends and family will appreciate the effort and thought that went into it.
It is important to know that some hostels will charge you for bedding like sheet covers and also for a towel. To avoid the cost, pack your own! A simple bedsheet and a small microfibre towel will not take up much room in your pack but it could save you from those unwanted extra fees.
With the advances made in WiFi call quality, there is no real need to pay for that call home. Services such as Skype, Viber, and Google Hangouts are a great way to communicate with your friends and family while you’re away. Just make sure you set it up on their computer before you leave and give them clear instructions on how to use it.
Are you serious? Low-cost airlines such as Ryanair charge £2 per person per flight. On a return flight, the money you save could pay for an extra meal, or even a bed in many cities. Unless you have priority pass credit cards, which include priority boarding for free, it's usually not worth paying extra for this service.
The plane isn’t going to leave you at the airport if you are the last person to board the flight. The only people who really NEED to be boarded first are families with children, the elderly, or the disabled. If you fit one of these categories you don’t need to pay for priority boarding anyway.
If you know that you have to pay for the food on your flight pack your own. Not only will you have control of the food you get to eat but you can eat whenever suits you and you save some money. Win-Win-Win!
It is probably not a bad idea to avoid airline food anyway as it usually is very high in sodium which will dehydrate your body. Read more on our guide – Everything You Need to Survive a Long Flight.
While this one may seem strange to include, you would be surprised how many people will hastily pay for an umbrella during the wet season.
Our Tip: If it starts to rain, find the nearest bar and tell the bartender you think you left your black umbrella in the bar and can they check. The chances are pretty good that they have a black umbrella in their lost and found (think about it, when you have had a few drinks it is easy to forget your umbrella).
Unfortunately banks never seem to know when enough is enough. They seem to find new ways to gouge us at every opportunity. Don’t be surprised to find an extra fee or more added onto your statement when you return.
Most private ATM’s will charge you just for the privilege of using them. Go to Vegas and you could be up for as much as $5 each time you pull out cash.
So what do you do? Well, our first tip is to avoid private ATMs and where possible only take money out from your own bank. This is a challenge when traveling internationally and to remote areas so look for cards that waive any foreign transactions.
Now we could have included restrooms/toilets in our list but there are still many places in the world that do charge for the convenience of a clean toilet. We’re pretty sure that when the time comes you will pay that fee!
Have we missed any others? Tell us what things you won’t pay for in the comments section below.
A while ago on our Backpacker Travel Facebook page we asked you what you wanted more of. The overwhelming response was for more backpacking tips and pictures worldwide.
Each year thousands of travel lovers, like you, decide to backpack our way through various countries in search of excitement, adventure, and freedom. Twenty to thirty years ago, backpackers were predominantly white, middle-class young people, though this has now changed considerably.
Here’s our list of ways that you can backpack more sensibly, safely, and responsibly – to find a balance between having fun, returning home safely, and positively contributing to local communities so you have a better all-around backpacking experience.
If you’re backpacking with a group of your friends, take it in turns to be a designated “responsible” one, so when you’re out drinking in an unfamiliar place, someone is always on the lookout for trouble and makes sure everyone gets back to the hostel safely.
The best advice we can give is to use your common sense, but also make sure you don’t listen to all the horror stories you hear or you will never leave your hostel room.
Here are a few basic points of advice from the Foreign Office:
So easy to do in this day and age as most places have internet cafes or offer WiFi. Worst case, use a telephone.
You may think it’s hard to get away from the tourist trail if you're basing your trip on Lonely Plant or any of the other guide books but being prepared can help prevent you from getting in trouble. They can be vital for providing maps when you first get into cities, allowing you to be prepared before you arrive and aware of scams and no-go areas.
Seems pretty obvious, but especially true in South American cities apparently.
If you don’t have valuable possessions to worry about you’ll be able to relax and have a much better time.
Obviously don’t carry all your cash with you, we used a Nationwide Debit card as they're one of the few who don’t charge you for transactions abroad. We found traveler's cheques increasingly useless though they were of use in some of the more remote areas.
Do make sure you have some money though, if someone does try and mug you they may get pissed off if you have nothing to give them. We also suggest you carry a “dummy wallet” with small change and any additional kept in a money belt. There’s nothing more obvious than going to pay for a snack in a market and then sticking your hands down your pants flicking through wads of cash.
No one likes to lose possessions but it is important to remember these are only material things, nothing in your bag is worth risking your life for. Get insurance then it won't matter!
If someone asks simply play the dumb tourist card and say you can't remember!
By simply following these basic principles, you are already one step ahead of most travelers out there and well on your way to a worry-free journey.
For even more in-depth tips, check out our Backpacker 101 Guides.
It is a well-known fact that you should never mess with the folks at airport security. Since 9/11 you can’t get away with the slightest joke, just take a look around any airline check-in and you are sure to find a stern sounding sign advising not to poke fun about carrying weapons or drugs and the like.
There have been many cases where some idiot made a stupid joke only to be pulled to the side for a thorough bag and body search or worse yet denied boarding. Well, yesterday the stakes were raised when a passenger onboard a flight sneezed, then said “Sorry, I just came from Africa.”
With the recent death of a man in Texas that had contracted the Ebola virus in Africa tension levels are at an extreme in the US and any threat, no matter how stupid, is being taken seriously. So, while it came as no surprise when the US Airways flight was stopped on the runway what happened next was like something out of the movies.
Ambulances rushed toward the plane on the tarmac and men wearing blue Haz-mat suits boarded the flight. Thankfully the flight attendant did a great job in diffusing the situation onboard by making an announcement to the passengers and playing down the ridiculousness that was about to happen, humiliating the passenger who had caused it in the process.
Check out the video below to see how it all went down. Skip to 0:30 for the flight attendant announcement and the guy gets escorted off at about 7:20.
You can only imagine the hell this guy is going to face after being removed from the flight. Not only by officials but more so from any of the millions of people who have now watched his idiotic behavior on YouTube.
Sorta can’t help but think of this memorable scene in the animated movie Monsters Inc.
Have you ever seen someone ejected over a stupid comment?
** Update** WOW Airlines ceased operations in 2019
With the cost of flights being such a large percentage of most people’s travel budget, we are constantly on the lookout for deals to save a few dollars. Well, as of this week, a relative newcomer to the world of low-cost airlines has been creating a buzz by announcing flights as low as $99 between the United States and Europe!
WOW Air is a small, low-cost carrier based in Iceland that is solely owned and founded by entrepreneur Skúli Mogensen (Richard Branson, eat your heart out). In October 2012 WOW Air took over the flight operations of local carrier Iceland Express and now flies to Iceland from a number of European cities.
This week, the airline’s U.S. site went live offering passengers the chance to fly across the Atlantic for under $100 (one way, including taxes). That’s less than what most of us are paying on other airlines for just the taxes.
Update: Unfortunately it seems that while the $99 deals have all been snapped up, you can still bag a bargain with current prices on the site ranging from around $146 flying from either Boston or Washington D.C. to Reykjavik.
While not quite in the realm of Ryanair’s fee structure, don’t expect any extras included in your fare. Along with checked luggage, WOW passengers will also be charged for carry-on bags if they are over 5kgs (11lbs). As with all other low-cost carriers, services like food, beverages and extra legroom are all add-ons.
If you’ve made your way around the world with a backpack you’ll know how important it is to find the right gear to keep you comfortable. Brand names and looks mean nothing if the footwear is not the best possible fit for your feet. You can find orthotic insoles with Docpods.
A great backpack is a given. A comfortable pair of shoes is essential, but what about your socks? Is one of your most important pieces of equipment being misunderstood and underappreciated? Does the humble sock really deserve to be relegated to the bottom of your packing list?
Keeping your feet beautiful and happy should be your top priority if you plan on walking any serious distances while traveling. I’ve learned a lot about my feet over the years running ultra marathons, traveling, and working in the military. I once had a blister the size of my heel, and at times haven’t been able to walk because of the poor condition of my feet. By the time you’re having issues with your feet, it’s going to be too late. Your best line of defense is preparation.
My personal experience has led me to a number of conclusions about what is best for your feet. Here is a list of my top tips for keeping your feet looking beautiful and feeling happy while backpacking the world:
Start out light; train up in a steady manner until you are comfortable carrying all of your kit. Go out in all conditions so you know your personal limits; again, work up to the harshest environments and conditions, don’t start there and expect to enjoy yourself! Apply common sense and ask for advice. Hikers and backpackers are a community who loves to share and help each other.
Do not compromise on quality and comfort; the insole must fit and not allow your foot to move, blisters commonly occur in the heel region as a result. Research and test footwear before purchasing. Brand names and looks mean nothing if the footwear is not the best possible fit for your feet.
I have never found a shoe or boot that keeps all water out. I prefer to wear shoes and boots that have a high standard of drainage in-built. Better let it out as quickly as possible rather than trap it inside next to your foot.
Socks that are specifically designed to fit your feet are the most appropriate. Find socks that compliment your feet and the footwear that you have purchased; there is no point in spending good money on great footwear to compromise them with poor quality, ill-fitting socks. Cotton is not appropriate for anyone considering a long backpacking adventure. I use a Merino Wool, Coolmax, and Bamboo blend.
Have multiple pairs and change them regularly, particularly if they get wet or you are in a hot environment. Keep your socks clean, dry, and free of dirt.
If you wear boots, break them in before you leave on your journey. There is no better way to ensure blisters than to walk for hours in shoes you have just bought. Wear your shoes indoors over a few days (without walking too much) and let the heat of your feet shape and soften the shoe material. Not only will they fit better but your feet will thank you for it in the long run.
Make sure your toenails are trimmed and filed. Keep your feet clean and dry, take your shoes off and air them regularly. Avoid letting calluses form. You can develop blisters under a callus, which become very hard to treat. Reduce (but don’t eliminate) calluses.
Know how to apply preventative tape to your feet and toes. Tape hotspots and know how to deal with blisters if they occur. If you do tape your toes and feet remember to roll your socks on and off to avoid rolling the edges of the tape.
Learn how to prevent and treat blisters, there are numerous articles and no end of good advice on this subject. If you are doing the hard yards find out and use blister patches, taping techniques, and a favorite of mine Hikers Wool or Sports Wool which you use to wrap your toes.
Carry a first aid kit that has appropriate foot care included. When I travel I always bring a nail file, clippers, and strapping tape just in case I can feel my feet begin to rub.
Remember to treat your feet with the respect they deserve. You won’t realize how important they are until it’s too late!
Travel is an eye-opening experience, often providing a window into some of the challenges that are faced around the world. Most westerners can tell you about the first time they visited a developing country – the different sights, sounds, smells and tastes are often a shock to the senses creating a vivid memory that will stay with them forever.
Unfortunately for some, these memories can be overshadowed by circumstances they might be unaccustomed to on a day-to-day basis – Corruption. While no country is exempt from the hands of corruption, there are places in this world where corruption has become so normal that it is just a part of daily life.
Rigged elections, bribery, money laundering, poor health care and limited funds for education are just part of the problem. When combined this leads to widespread misuse of public funding and a general mistrust in the public sector. Corruption halts economic development and undermines the justice system.
Transparency International has just released their Corruption Perceptions Index for 2014 which rates 175 countries (based on how corrupt their public sector is) out of a possible score of 100.
Corruption is a widespread issue in all countries. “A poor score is likely a sign of widespread bribery, lack of punishment for corruption, and public institutions that don’t respond to citizens’ needs” states the website.
The disturbing news is that not one single country received a perfect score and even worse, more than two-thirds received a score below 50.
It probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise to read that Somalia and North Korea share the title of ‘Most Corrupt Country’ for the third year in a row with a score of only 8 points.
1. North Korea/Somalia (tied score)
3. Sudan
4. Afghanistan
5. South Sudan
6. Iraq
7. Turkmenistan
8. Uzbekistan/Libya (tied score)
10. Eritrea
1. Denmark
2. New Zealand
3. Finland
4. Sweden
5. Norway/Switzerland (tied score)
7. Singapore
8. Netherlands
9. Luxembourg
10. Canada
Traveling to faraway destinations can be a daunting experience for any traveler – and this unnerving feeling is magnified in the case of a first-time traveler going on an adventure solo.
But before you reassess your travel plans, it’s important to remember that these feelings are totally normal. Why? It’s because people tend to be creatures of habit and traveling is one of the best examples of an activity that forces you to be out of your comfort zone. There are going to be times that you get lost and overwhelmed with culture shock, days when you feel homesick or lonely, and moments when you wonder… Why the heck did I decide to do this?
While some people may find it easy to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger, it’s not always easy to do, especially in a foreign setting. The good news is that you’re not the first – and certainly not the last – person who will feel this way. Everywhere you go you’re going to meet people traveling alone, and funnily enough, they’re just like you. They’re also looking for new friends, new experiences, and new adventures. That’s why travelers generally get along so well – because they understand each other. We’re all away from home. We all miss our friends and family. We all have no one to hang out with. But now we do.
Here are a few quick tips on how to get a conversation started while traveling:
Whether it’s the long plane from Australia to South East Asia, a jolty bus ride through South America, or stuck waiting in transit in Europe, there’s an opportunity to look around and chat to fellow travelers. All you need to do is strike up a conversation and see where it goes. An initial question about the bus timetable, recommendations on what to do in a particular city or jokes about travel delays are a quick way to break the ice and get to know other people better.
Hostels are perfect for travelers on a budget – they are inexpensive and located in most cities around the world. They are also the best type of accommodation to meet and talk to other travelers, particularly as some dorm rooms can accommodate up to 20 beds. It’d be harder not to chat with someone in this environment. While some people may see the lack of privacy as a downside, if you do your research you can find hostels that have smaller rooms – some hostels even have rooms with only two beds.
If you’re intimidated to say hi to your fellow hostel compadres, just ask them a few basic questions about whether the hostel does laundry, what the Wi-Fi password is, where a good shop is to get some food to make breakfast, etc. From there, it’s a natural progression to ask about the person – their name, where they’re from, where they’ve traveled and where they’re going next. Hostels also have a lot of great places to chill out – you could easily take the conversation further in one of the common rooms or at a nearby bar or pub that evening.
Another great way to start chatting with someone is by asking about a particular item – or showing one off. When meeting like-minded travelers, one of the top questions is about one’s home country – where you’re from, whether that person has been there or plans to go there, what interesting sights and activities can be done in your hometown.
Flag patches, or country badges as some people call them, are a simple, cheap, and effective way to indicate to others where you’re from or even all the countries that you have been to. Backpackflags offer flags that are the same size (6.5 x 4cm) and are made of polyester. They can be safely washed in a washing machine and sewn onto your backpack, bag, jacket, or clothing (check out the instructions here).
An extra bonus is that it makes your items easy to identify (especially after that 24-hour bus ride where you barely had any sleep and also were nursing a hangover), and also is a great memento of all the countries you’ve traveled to.
If you’re still biting your nails at the thought of taking the plunge to talk to someone, just consider – what do you have to lose? A simple smile and hello can go a long way. While not everyone you speak to will become your friend, striking up a conversation is definitely a much better alternative to being solo for your entire amazing travel adventure.
Now it’s your turn. What methods do you use to initiate conversations and make new friends on the road?
Disclaimer: This article was kindly sponsored by Backpackflags.com, a product we now happily use. All views presented above are from our Backpacker Travel contributor.
There are countless sensations and noises involved in the operation of an aircraft before, during, and after a flight. Modern airplanes are highly complex machines with an array of moving parts that make noise and have attendant sensations.
The noises and sensations experienced in flight will be expounded upon a logical order from the start to the finish, with the endgame of helping a new or nervous flier get a greater understanding of the processes of flight and what to expect.
At the gate, the airplane may shake, whirr, and whine. The shaking and banging sounds often come from cargo being loaded in the cargo bin located below the cabin and in the aft (rear) fuselage (towards the tail).
Located in the tail of most aircraft is a small jet engine called an APU (auxiliary power unit). The APU provides electrical power and air conditioning on the ground. Being a jet engine, the APU makes a characteristic jet engine noise that one may hear from the cabin.
Before taxi begins, the APU air conditioning air is diverted and employed to spin the engines during engine start. When this happens, the air coming out of the vents may momentarily cease, but should return after the engines start.
Here is a video of the Boeing 747 APU start-up
On the taxi to the departure runway, the APU is able to provide the source of air for the air conditioning or the air can be transferred to the engines. When this happens, there is a momentary change in the intensity of air coming out of the air vents in the cabin (called gaspers). The momentary result is less air coming out of the gaspers and less air noise, followed by greater air quantity and noise.
When the airplane is minutes from takeoff, the flaps and slats will be extended. These devices are located on the front and back of the wings and help in lift production for takeoff. Different airplanes will have different noises associated with their use.
Here is a video of a stationary Boeing 737 extending its flaps
There are four key sources of noise and sensations from takeoff. These include the engines, flaps, landing gear, and aerodynamic noise. The engines create strong accelerations, similar to pushing the pedal to the floor in an automobile. This is completely necessary, as the engines need to propel a lumbering aircraft that may weigh over a million pounds to speeds of approximately 170 miles/hour (274 Km/hour) in a short distance. The noises that are heard from the engines are the result of the shearing of air masses. Simply, the high-speed air coming out of the engines is smashing into stationary air outside and it causes noise.
The landing gear has similar noise emanating from them as the flaps since they are both hydraulic powered. Sometimes, the landing gear will have a loud thud associated with extension or retraction. There is one key difference between the flaps and the landing gear; after takeoff, the wheels of the airplane will be stopped as they are retracted. As a result, there could be some strange groaning noises from the brakes as the wheels are stopped before they retract into the wheel wells.
Here is a video of a Boeing 777 landing gear extension test
This is what takeoff looks and sounds like from the cockpit
The only real change in sensation from the climb is from the transition through 10,000 feet. At this level, the airplane will normally speed up significantly. This increase will increase the aerodynamic noises in the cabin. In addition, it is possible that the airplane engine noise will increase as the pilots increase thrust for the climb. The signature sign that passengers can use to know when the 10,000-foot transition occurs is the chime. The chime is used to signal to the Flight Attendants that the airplane is above 10,000 feet, which is the minimum altitude where they can begin servicing the passengers in the cabin.
Click here to hear some variations of the chime.
Aerodynamic noise is simply the noise from air molecules striking the airplane body (also called a fuselage). The faster the airplane goes, the more aerodynamic noise will be heard in the cabin. The airplane will accelerate to a maximum of 250 Knots (which is equal to 287 miles/hour or 463 Km/hour) after takeoff. Below 10,000 feet, the Federal Aviation Administration requires speeds of 250 Knots or less.
Leveling off is when the airplane stops climbing and maintains a steady altitude. During takeoff, and also landing, the plane will often perform maneuvers known as “step climbs” and “step descents”. This process is given by air traffic control to avoid other aircraft in the area and can be seen in the following diagram.
During level-off and when the aircraft reaches cruising altitude, the engine noise is significantly reduced. This can be alarming because it can get so quiet that it sounds as if the engines ceased operation. Don’t stress, this is most likely just a reduction in thrust due to a combination of thinner air (providing less resistance) and less power needed to maintain the cruising altitude.
Aircraft have such a high level of excess thrust that if the engines were left at their climb setting, the airplane would accelerate to well beyond the speed of sound. Flying beyond the speed of sound is decidedly not a good thing on contemporary passenger-carrying aircraft. Additionally, if the airplane is accelerated further the aerodynamic noises will increase.
Descent is much of the reverse process of the climb. Engine noise reduces, so that the airplane will not accelerate as it “slides” downhill toward the destination airport. When the airplane approaches 10,000 feet, the airplane also has to decelerate to meet the 250-knot requirement discussed earlier.
Since modern jet aircraft are built for minimum drag and are not amenable to slowing down, devices called “flight spoilers” may be employed to help it slow. These devices (sometimes referred to as “the boards” by pilots) are symmetrically situated on the tops of both wings and help spoil the lift and increase drag, thus slowing the airplane down. The most important aspect to remember about the flight spoilers is that they will induce an audible rumble and vibration in the cabin. Flight spoilers and ground spoilers will also be used on landing to help slow the airplane but do not have much of a sensation associated with their deployment.
Flight spoiler deployment on an Airbus A320
As with takeoff, the airplane will need the flaps for better wing lifting ability at low airspeeds. Jet aircraft wings are designed for high-speed flight. Flaps are needed to keep the speed at which the airplane can land at to a minimum. Without flaps, landing speeds would need to be increased significantly and the resulting needed runway length could double or triple! This reduces safety margins and would require more robust and heavy tires and brakes, decreasing the amount of revenue-paying passengers the airplane could carry and increasing airplane costs.
Flaps and landing gear will be extended for landing approximately 2-5 minutes from landing with the same noises and sensations described above. When the landing gear is extended, there are about 1-2 minutes before touchdown. The way the landing gear sensations differ from flap actuation is that occupants will note the change in sensation coming from the underbelly of the airplane.
Once the wheels have touched down on the runway the pilot will reverse the engine thrust to help slow the aircraft quickly on the runway. During this process, the engines will sound like they are speeding up and you will feel yourself being forced forward in your seat due to the rapid deceleration.
The best bastion in the fight against passenger anxiety is getting a better understanding of the process of flight. As hopefully demonstrated, a high degree of technical knowledge is unnecessary to understand noises and sensations of flight but knowing what to expect during flight will go a long way to pacifying your anxiety.
If one fact was gleaned from the preceding reading, it should be this: during takeoff and landing, the airplane’s systems will be operated to a greater degree and, as such, there will be an increase in noises and bodily sensations during these periods.
Possibly the best gauge if you are feeling uneasy is to take a look at the Flight Attendants. If a look of fear exists in their collective eyes, it may be good reason to begin to hold some apprehensions. It is much more likely that the Flight Attendants will appear as calm as a vacationer relaxing on the beach in the Seychelles.
Happy Travels
