There is turbulence. Is it dangerous?
tur-bo-LEN-za — stress on third syllable. pe-ri-co-LO-so — stress on fourth syllable.
During a bumpy patch of flight when you are anxious and want reassurance from cabin crew.
'Turbolenza' (turbulence) is the same root as English. 'È pericoloso?' (is it dangerous?) is a simple but important question. Cabin crew are trained to reassure passengers about turbulence, which is uncomfortable but very rarely dangerous on modern commercial aircraft.
Ho paura di volare. Cosa posso fare?
I am afraid of flying. What can I do?
Inform crew — they can offer extra support
La turbolenza durerà a lungo?
Will the turbulence last long?
Crew often have information from the cockpit
Il pilota sa della turbolenza?
Does the pilot know about the turbulence?
Yes — they monitor weather radar continuously
The Italian term for fear of flying is 'aviofobia'. Several Italian airlines offer aviophobia courses. Modern aircraft are tested to withstand loads far beyond anything encountered in normal turbulence. Turbulence injuries on aircraft are almost always caused by passengers not wearing seatbelts.