- Planes can bank and turn quickly after takeoff because they’re advised to by air traffic control
- Aircraft must follow air traffic control departure routes to stay safe, avoiding any obstacles or dangers
- Your plane may 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
Planes bank immediately after takeoff because they’re 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.
You might find these turns disorientating, but they’re not dangerous. Thankfully, it’s likely to be short term feeling with the plane levelling off quickly.
Here’s an explanation of why planes bank after take off, and why it’s nothing to worry about.
Why steep banking isn’t a problem
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 only 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. It can be worse when the cabin lights are dimmed or during night flights.
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 feeling disorientated?
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.
If you find banked turns uncomfortable, here are some ways you can reduce the feelings of disorientation:
- 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 safe and normal aprt of every flight. They may be temporarily disorientating, they’re not dangerous. Understanding how planes bank and why they follow specific routes can reduce anxiety.
For more tips on dealing with your fear of flying, visit the Help Desk for some advice and download the Calm Flight Toolkit for some travel tips.
Please share this article with anyone who might benefit from it.
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.
