Why do pilots fly over Greenland when flying from NY to London instead of in a straight line?


Why do pilots fly over Greenland when flying from NY to London instead of in a straight line? This route is called a geodesic or great circle. While map projections distort these routes confusing passengers, the great circle path is the shortest path between two far locations. This is why pilots fly polar routes saving time and distance. And this is why pilots often fly over Greenland.


Has a plane ever flown over the Pacific?

Route, shown on first edition cover of descriptive book of the flight Southern Cross 1928 A photograph commemorating the first trans-Pacific flight. In 1928, Australian aviator Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew were the first to cross the Pacific by air.


Why do aircraft fly at 35000 feet?

The biggest reason for flying at higher altitudes lies in fuel efficiency. The thin air creates less drag on the aircraft, which means the plane can use less fuel in order to maintain speed. Less wind resistance, more power, less effort, so to speak.


What is the shortest flight from the US to Europe?

If you're looking for the shortest flight from the US to Europe, look no further than the route from New York to St. John's, Newfoundland. This unique flight offers a convenient and efficient way to travel between the two continents, with a flight time of around 90 minutes.


Is it safe to fly over Atlantic?

When flying over land, of course it is more likely that there will be more airfields closer to the aircraft at any given time. However, because of lessons learned from its history and the improvements in aircraft and engine reliability, crossing the oceans is deemed as safe as flying over land.


Why do flights from the US to Europe go so far north?

Why do international flights fly so far north? Planes travel along the shortest route in 3-dimensional space. This route is called a geodesic or great circle. While map projections distort these routes confusing passengers, the great circle path is the shortest path between two far locations.


Why do planes 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.


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.


Why can t you fly from america to australia?

The primary reason airplanes don't fly over the Pacific Ocean is because curved routes are shorter than straight routes. Flat maps are somewhat confusing because the Earth itself isn't flat. Rather, it's spherical. As a result, straight routes don't offer the shortest distance between two locations.


Which is the most expensive flight in the world?

New York City - Abu Dhabi via Etihad Airways The world's most expensive one-way airline ticket will set travelers back about $66,000. The reward is a first-class seat on Etihad Airways from New York City (JFK) to Abu Dhabi (AHU).


What is the longest nonstop flight in the world?

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? The current record for the longest-distance commercial flight is held by a Boeing 777-200LR.


What is the shortest flight in the world?

The Loganair Westray to Papa Westray route is the shortest scheduled passenger flight in the world. Flights on the route are scheduled for one and a half minutes, and actual flying time is closer to one minute. The record for the fastest flight is 53 seconds.


Do pilots sleep on long flights?

The simple answer is yes, pilots do, and are allowed to sleep during flight but there are strict rules controlling this practice. Pilots would only normally sleep on long haul flights, although sleep on short haul flights is permitted to avoid the effects of fatigue.


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?