Air Pockets | Steve Henderly, CFA | Nvest Wealth Strategies®
Printer Friendly PDF: Sept 2024 Commentary
One of the biggest thrills for roller coaster aficionados is the sensation of free-fall in their stomach as the train makes its way over the edge of the first drop. Perhaps you’ve experienced a similar sensation during a flight where there was turbulence or an air pocket. If it was unexpected, it probably caused brief anxiety. Earlier this year, a flight from London to Singapore was going smoothly until the plane experienced a sudden and dramatic change in altitude, dropping nearly 200 feet in less than 5 seconds. Panic probably best describes what passengers felt. A drop like that can throw anyone not securely in a seat belt into the ceiling and then quickly crash back down; more than half of the flight’s passengers required medical treatment as a result of this unexpected air pocket.