“A typical day sees us land in Tom Price, drive to the other sites, work all day and sometimes fly back to Perth the same evening, so a comfortable nap on the plane can do you a world of good,” Mark said.
Sitting in one position for extended periods can cause muscle and joint stiffness and high altitudes often make you feel drowsy and lethargic. Flying regularly in small aircraft, which are not always as luxuriously equipped as their larger cousins, can be particularly harsh on the neckand shoulders.
Travel pillows offer some extra comfort to help you grab a quick kip before landing. Turbulence is another prevalent source of discomfort for frequent flyers. Turbulence is air movement that cannot be seen by the naked eye. It occurs for many reasons such as mountain waves, jet streams, atmospheric pressures, cold or warm fronts, or thunderstorms.
In-flight turbulence is the leading cause of injuries to aircraft passengers and crew. Occupants injured during turbulence are usually not wearing a seatbelt.
Even if the seatbelt sign is switched off, it is a good idea to stay buckled up in case of an unexpected bump in the air.
Thank you to all the Pilbara Iron frequent flyers who sent us their favourite flying tips. Here are just a few of their suggestions:
What particular issues affect you when flying?
“..the seats are not particularly conducive to sleeping. Laying them back helps so you don't slump on the person next to you.“
What do you do to minimise the effects of a dawn start?
“Pack your bag the night before, try to get to bed early and get to the airport in plenty of time. Ask for a seat near the front and travel with carry on baggage. That way you can get straight off at the other end and avoid queuing for a hire car.”
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