- Planes can bank and turn quickly after takeoff because they’re advised to by air traffic control
- The plane must follow air traffic control departure routes to stay safe, avoiding any obstacles or dangers
- You may have to bank (or turn) multiple times when you leave an airport
- While banking may feel steep (and a little disorientating if you do a large turn) it’s a normal, expected and controlled part of flight
Understanding banked turns
Ever wondered why planes bank after takeoff from some airports? It’s not a problem with the plane, or the fault of the pilot. It’s because the plane is following pre-defined routes, decided by air traffic control. The course is part of an airport’s Standard Instrument Departure (SID), providing clear and simple instructions for a pilot when departing an airport.
Depending on the orientation of the runway and your destination, these turns can sometimes be steep. You may find the plane turning 180 degrees or more to find the correct course.
Disorientation while under a steep turn is understandable, especially if you’re anxious about flying. Thankfully, it’s a short term feeling with the plane levelling off quickly when it finds the right course.
Why steep banking isn’t a problem
To change direction, planes use the ailerons on the wings to roll the aircraft left or right. The tail has a rudder or fin that can be moved sideways to yaw.
When you bank in a plane the pilot is operating both the ailerons and the rear fin in a controlled way to help you find the right course.
Pilots can perform a bank turn while the plane is climbing, and it’s completely safe to do so. While the turns may feel extreme to you, they’re typically between 25-30 degrees.
This film provides a great explanation of how planes turn (and why banking is completely safe).
Why banking after takeoff feels weird
For many anxious flyers, takeoff is a scary time with lots of new or unfamiliar sensations and sensations at a time when the body and mind are under stress.
When in a heightened state of anxiety, banking can feel scary with some passengers thinking there’s something wrong.
This is heightened because banking affects the vestibular system.
The vestibular system is the body’s way of detecting movement. It’s responsible for helping you to stay balanced. A steep, banked turn can confuse the vestibular system, leading to feelings of dizziness and vertigo.
These feelings of disorientation can be heightened if you look out of both windows. Your mind is trying to complete a picture, but the sensory data it’s receiving is confusing.
Thankfully, banked turns are short and the plane will return to a stable ascent as quickly as possible.
Is there anything I can do to stop the feeling?
Banked turns are a part of aviation and they’re going to happen on every flight. As we’ve said, they’re typically short and the plane will return to level flight as quickly as possible.
Some of the ways you can reduce the feelings of disorientation include:
- Choosing a seat over the wings (or near to the centre of the plane): This is the most stable part of the aircraft.
- Wear noise cancelling headphones: These can help to distract you from what’s happening outside the plane and reduce the impact on the vestibular system.
- Chew gum or a hard sweet: This can help to reduce the impact of pressure changes that can affect some travellers.
- Take a travel or motion sickness medication: Some flyers find taking a motion sickness medication can help. Always seek medical advice before taking anything to understand how it could react to other medications you are taking.
Banked turns are a part of air travel and your plane is likely to perform several when you take off and land. Banked turns can disrupt the body’s vestibular system, making you feel dizzy and disorientated.
Some anxious flyers may worry that steep banked turns are dangerous or are something to worry about – but they aren’t.
If you’re worried about banked turns, there are ways you can reduce their impact – including choosing a suitable seat and wearing noise cancelling headphones.
Preparation is key, too. Try to get your body and mind relaxed and go with the turn instead of physically and emotionally fighting against it.
Visit our Help Desk for some advice and download the Calm Flight Toolkit for some travel tips.
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FAQs
Planes bank and turn quickly after takeoff because they are instructed to. The routes are pre-planned to guide aircraft safely away from terrain, other traffic and restricted airspace. The pre-planning of the routes are there to keep you safe.
No, banked turns are not dangerous. While the plane may feel like it’s turning at an acute angle, planes are likely to be turning at between 25 to 30 degrees. Banked turns can feel disorientating because it interferes with your vestibular system. Being able to see out of both sides of the plane can also cause perception problems which can lead to feelings of vertigo.
There are two elements to this: the physical sensation and psychological impact. Physically, you can sit over the wings, chew a sweet and wear noise cancelling headphones. You can use other distraction techniques and simply avoid looking out of the window. Psychologically, you’ll need to prepare for the flight. Understanding how planes fly is a great start, as is reading this blog. The more you fly, the more you’ll get used to banked turns and their impact on you – both physically and emotionally – will reduce.