# Why do pilots still tell you their planned altitude, weather at your destination, etc?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-still-tell-you-their-planned-altitude-weather-at-your-destination-etc/841187>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 3, 2019, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-still-tell-you-their-planned-altitude-weather-at-your-destination-etc/841187 "2019-10-03T01:54:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-still-tell-you-their-planned-altitude-weather-at-your-destination-etc/841187/41 "2019-10-05T12:53:15Z")

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I think that it reassures the more nervous fliers. If the pilot is talking about altitude and weather rather than possible engine problems\*, such folks will be more relaxed (and therefore cause fewer problems). The calm tone of voice is important.

- The stuff that goes through nervous fliers minds can be incredible. So anything that implies “We’re not going to crash and burn.” may be soothing.

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**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-still-tell-you-their-planned-altitude-weather-at-your-destination-etc/841187/42 "2019-10-05T18:01:38Z")

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I find it a nice reminder that commercial air travel is not teleportation where you magically disembody at your point of departure and re-materialise at your destination, even if it may feel a little like it - you’re still traversing the points in between. An aspect which I have thought about [in another thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=843554).

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**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-pilots-still-tell-you-their-planned-altitude-weather-at-your-destination-etc/841187/43 "2019-10-05T18:38:43Z")

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I’m not a pilot, but find such things very interesting.

But be glad I’m not your pilot “We will be cruising at 480 knots at 35,000 feet. Bwahahhahahah”

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