What is the altitude flying east vs west?
What is the altitude flying east vs west? Controllers take into account the compass direction an aircraft is flying in when giving a pilot an altitude. Although altitudes like 38,000 and 39,000 are both even numbers, “38” and “39” are even and odd. Westbound flights get even numbers like 38,000 feet, while eastbound flights receive odd numbers like 39,000.
What happens if a pilot flies too high?
The higher the altitude, the higher the air pressure differential between the inside and outside of the plane. At around 43,000 feet, a maximum of 9 PSI is reached, and anything higher could lead to a catastrophic structural failure of the aircraft.
How do pilots decide how high to fly?
During the dispatch phase of the flight, the pilots are provided data on forecast winds and temperature for normal cruise levels of the aircraft. The pilots can then input these data into the FMS and then once in the air the FMS calculates the most optimum altitude based on the input data.
What is the ceiling altitude of a 747?
Boeing widebodies The German flag carrier also flies the modern 747-8, which has a service ceiling of 43,100 ft (13,137 m).
Why do planes fly at 30000 feet?
The reason planes cruise at high altitudes is that they burn less fuel and can fly faster, as the air is less dense. At 30,000 feet and higher, it is also possible for aircraft to avoid weather systems, making it more comfortable onboard.
What is the safest altitude to fly?
An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
Do planes fly at 600 mph?
Cruising. For most commercial airliners, the airplane's cruising speed ranges between 550 and 600 mph (478 to 521 knots).
At what altitude do planes fly faster?
Yes, and no. Aircraft normally fly at an optimal indicated airspeed until they reach their optimal climb/cruise Mach. This transition from airspeed to Mach normally occurs in a transition zone of around 27000 - 30000 ft.
What is the best altitude to avoid turbulence?
Well, considering both in-cloud and out-of-cloud turbulence, flight between 8,000 and 12,000 feet will allow for the smoothest ride, on average.”
What do pilots see when they fly?
Pilots have a unique viewpoint while flying private or commercial aircraft. They get an unobstructed view of stunning natural sights, such as pink lakes and rectangular-shaped icebergs. Some have reported seeing UFOs, while others have flown over swirling hurricanes.
What is the longest flight in the world?
What is the longest flight in the world by distance? The longest flight in the world by distance is New York (JFK) to Singapore (SIN) on Singapore Airlines clocking in at 9,537 miles. What plane can fly the farthest in the world?
Why do planes do not fly over the Pacific?
The most common reason is that there are no airstrips or airports on many of the small islands, so if a plane had to make an emergency landing, it would be difficult to find a place to land. Additionally, the Pacific Ocean is vast and remote, so if a plane were to go down, it would be very difficult to find.