Why do commercial jets not fly higher?
Why do commercial jets not fly higher? Much thinner air means that the engines cannot produce enough trust, and the wings would not produce sufficient lift. There could also be problems restarting a failed engine at a higher altitude in the event of a failure, as well as other safety implications of flying at higher altitudes for passengers and crew.
Do jets fly higher than commercial planes?
At 35,000 feet, you can have up to a minute, and at 30,000 feet, it's up to two minutes. Most private jet operators will cruise at around 41,000 feet, gaining the advantages of the slightly higher-than-commercial altitude while minimizing additional risk to the flight.
Why are commercial planes flying so low?
Aircraft have to fly low in order to properly line up with the runways and execute safe landings. Aircraft may, however, appear to be lower than they actually are because their large sizes make them look closer.
Do military jets fly higher than commercial?
Most US military aircraft can exceed 50,000 feet, if they really really try. Again, the limits are classified. Most commercial jetliners cruise somewhere between 30,000 and 45,000 feet above mean sea level.
Why do planes cruise at 36 000 feet?
A major reason for flying at that altitude is money; After labor, fuel is the greatest expense for airlines. That's why airlines are constantly working to maximize their fuel efficiency. Cruising at 36,000 feet helps with that. The higher altitude means thinner air.
Why do business jets fly higher than commercial?
Quicker Ascension and Lighter Load Private jets, with their combination of less fuel, a lighter payload and greater power to weight ratio, are able to ascend faster and reach their cruising speed quicker.
Why do planes not fly directly over the Pacific Ocean?
Most flights are intended to spend as little time as possible over water, since storms are more common over the ocean than on land. An aircraft would not be safe to fly over the Pacific Ocean due to the stormy weather and frequent lightning strikes that occur there.
Why do planes fly at 40000 feet?
Planes are *optimized* to fly at certain heights to maximize the efficiency of their engines and their fuel consumption. So jet planes can fly a lot higher than propeller planes, so they do. They fly between 20,000 feet and 40,000 feet because they are designed and optimized to do just that.
How high can commercial jets fly?
The maximum height that a commercial airplane is allowed to reach when they fly is 42,000 feet, as this is the universally approved maximum altitude. This max altitude for airplanes is known as the “service ceiling.” Most commercial air jets fly at such a high altitude because it is known to optimize efficiency.
Why don t commercial jets fly at 45000 feet?
Flying at 45,000 feet plus altitude might avoid traffic and weather, but it also comes with its own risks. For example, if the aircraft was to rapidly depressurize and emergency oxygen fail, the time of useful consciousness at 45,000 feet is just nine to 15 seconds.
Why don t we fly east to go from India to USA?
Because the Earth is a three-dimensional sphere and not merely a two-dimensional flat, East-West surface. Because of this spherical shape, often times the shortest distance is flying more north and south, up over the Northern latitudes and the North Pole, rather than flying east/west over the Pacific.
What happens if a commercial plane flies too high?
Aerodynamic altitude: If a commercial airliner flies too high, it will encounter less dense air passing over the wings to create lift. This can cause the plane to stall and fall out of control. Depending on the weather conditions and aircraft weight, this can occur anywhere between 40,000 and 45,000 feet.
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?
What do pilots see when flying?
Whether flying at night or during the day, pilots need to see some kind of horizon. They use this to determine the airplane's attitude. At night pilots will turn their gaze from outside to inside and use the artificial horizon. The artificial horizon is normally a simply globe split into two hemispheres.