In-flight pack
Your calm companion for airplane mode
Open this page once before you fly (or install SafelyAboard to your home screen) and it works offline.
Checking offline readiness…
Add SafelyAboard to your home screen. It opens like an app, and the in-flight pack works in airplane mode.
Your program audio (saved on this phone)
From 7 days to your flight. Transcripts are on the program audio page.
Where are we in the flight?
Optional: your phone's GPS can often estimate altitude and speed, even in airplane mode. Location stays on your device; nothing is sent to us.
Tap a phase below, or use GPS.
At the gate: Doors close, the APU hums, lights may flicker as power switches over.
Taxi: Bumps over taxiway joints, engine noise changes, some Airbus jets make a barking sound.
Takeoff & climb: A strong push, the gear thunk, then engines get quieter as climb power is set.
Cruise: Steady whoosh; possible bumps. Keep your belt fastened when seated.
Descent: Engines go quiet and the flaps whir as the airplane slows down.
Landing: Gear rumbles down, a firm touchdown is often deliberate, then the roar of reverse thrust.
Sounds & sensations library
Text explanations only. We don't include audio unless it's properly licensed.
The engines got quieter soon after takeoff
Normal. Pilots often reduce from takeoff power to a climb setting once safely airborne. The engines aren't failing; they're being managed, and it's quieter for people on the ground.
Read more →A thunk and rumble just after liftoff
Normal. That's the landing gear folding up into its bays and the gear doors closing.
Read more →A whirring or grinding noise from the wings
Normal. Flaps and slats (extensions on the wings that help the airplane fly slowly) move in stages after takeoff and before landing.
Read more →A barking or buzzing sound while taxiing
Normal on some Airbus jets. It's often a hydraulic power transfer unit balancing pressure between hydraulic systems while one engine is running.
Read more →The cabin lights flickered or went quiet at the gate
Normal. Power is switching from the auxiliary power unit (APU) or ground power to the engines.
Read more →Bumps and shaking in turbulence
Uncomfortable, but airliners are built to handle far more than normal turbulence. The NTSB found turbulence accidents almost always involved injuries inside the cabin, generally with no damage to the airplane. Keep your seat belt on whenever you're seated.
Read more →The wings are bending up and down
They're meant to. Wings are designed to flex so they absorb gusts smoothly, like a car's suspension.
Read more →We're flying in circles before landing
Normal. That's a holding pattern, a routine air traffic tool when more airplanes want to land than the airport can take at that moment. US airline fuel rules require reserves for exactly this kind of delay.
Read more →The engines went almost silent at the start of descent
Normal. Airplanes often descend with the engines near idle, almost like gliding downhill.
Read more →We were about to land, then the engines roared and we climbed
That's a go-around: a normal, practised maneuver. The pilots decided conditions weren't just right for landing, so they climbed away to try again. It's a safety choice, not an emergency.
Read more →The landing was really firm
Often on purpose. On short, wet or gusty runways, pilots are trained to put the airplane down firmly so the tires grip and the brakes and spoilers work right away.
Read more →A loud roar right after touchdown
Normal. That's reverse thrust helping to slow the airplane, together with the spoilers popping up on the wings.
Read more →I think we were struck by lightning
Lightning strikes on airliners are relatively common and rarely significant. The airplane's skin conducts the current around the cabin and critical systems. You may see a flash or hear a bang, and usually that's all.
Read more →A 'ding' chime in the cabin
Normal. Pilots and flight attendants use chimes to communicate. One or two chimes after takeoff often means the crew can get up and start service.
Read more →Saved explainers
- The Potomac River midair collision near Washington National
- Delta Connection 4819: the jet that flipped over at Toronto — and everyone got out
- Alaska Airlines 1282: the door plug that came off in flight
- Haneda runway collision: how all 379 people on JAL 516 got out
- Turbulence: uncomfortable, but not dangerous to the airplane
- That noise! A guide to normal sounds on a flight
- Go-arounds: why pilots sometimes abort a landing (and why that's good)
- Holding patterns: why you're flying in circles
- What if an engine fails?
- Lightning strikes on airplanes
- Bird strikes: common, planned for, and usually uneventful
- Why they spray your plane in winter (de-icing, explained)
- Flying when there are thunderstorms around
- That sudden little bump on approach: wake turbulence
- Fear of flying: practical things that help
- Can turbulence make a plane crash?
- What does "moderate turbulence" actually mean?
- Why do planes suddenly drop? "Air pockets", explained
- Flying over the ocean on two engines: how ETOPS works
- What if the pilot gets sick during the flight?
- What is a ground stop, and should it worry me?
- How do planes land in fog?
- Choosing a seat when you're a nervous flyer
- Why your ears pop on a plane, and what helps
- How to calm down on a plane: a step-by-step guide
- Is it safe to fly in the rain?
- Is it safe to fly in snow?
- Is it safe to fly in strong wind?
- Is it normal for airplane wings to flex and bounce?
- Why do planes fly so high?
- What do pilots do during turbulence?
- Why does the seat belt sign stay on so long?
- How do pilots know where turbulence is?
- Why was my flight delayed for "weather" when it's sunny here?
- What do air traffic controllers do for your flight?
- How often are airliners inspected and maintained?
- How do airline pilots train, and how often are they checked?
- Are small regional planes safe?
- What happens if someone gets sick on a plane?
- Flying with anxiety medication: what to know
- First flight as an adult? A calm, step-by-step guide
- Red-eye flights when you're anxious: how to rest (or at least relax)
- Flying with a child who's scared of flying
- Scared to fly after a crash in the news?
- Why does the plane tilt so much after takeoff?
GPS altitude from phones is approximate and often unavailable inside a cabin. The phase estimate is only a guess to help you find the right explanation.