Why can't planes fly higher?

A continued ascend will further reduce the amount of oxygen in the air, which may reduce the power generated. A higher elevation will require a longer climb, meaning the aircraft will burn more fuel in order to reach its cruising altitude.

What would happen if a plane flew too high?

If a passenger jet flies too high, it reaches a point called 'Coffin Corner'. This is the point at which the aircraft's low speed stall and high-speed buffet meet and the plane can no longer maintain its altitude which forces it to descend.

Why can't planes fly higher than the stratosphere?

Commercial Aircraft. You won't find any light aircraft flying in the stratosphere. This is because they lack pressurized cabins and are unable to operate at higher altitudes. Light aircraft stick to the troposphere and within an altitude range of about 10,000 feet.

Why do planes not fly lower?

The higher airplanes climb, the thinner the air gets, and the more efficiently they can fly because of less resistance in the atmosphere, according to Ryan Jorgenson, an aviation data analyst.

Can a flight stop in the air without moving?

Can an airplane stay up in the air without moving forward just like helicopter? A: Techincally, there is only one way for the aircraft to remain hanging motionless in the air: if weight and lift cancel each other out perfectly, and at the same time thrust and drag cancel each other out too. But this is incredibly rare.

Why Planes Fly So Low

How cold is it at 40000 feet?

Between 9,000 and 12,000 metres (30,000 and 40,000 feet), the cruising altitude of most jet aircraft, air temperatures range from −40 to −70 °F (−40 to −57 °C). Modern aircraft have sealed cabins and heaters to protect pilots and passengers from wind blasts and cold air.

Why do planes avoid the Pacific Ocean?

Flying over the Pacific Ocean is avoided by most airlines for most flights because it usually doesn't make sense to fly over it when shorter and safer routes exist. The Pacific Ocean is also more remote and less safe than the Indian and Atlantic Oceans to fly over, resulting in a higher chance of a plane crashing.

Can you fly over Mount Everest?

Tim Morgan, a commercial pilot writing for Quora says aircraft can fly above 40,000 feet, and hence it is possible to fly over Mount Everest which stands at 29,031.69 feet. However, typical flight routes do not travel above Mount Everest as the mountains create unforgiving weather.

Why don't planes fly east from Australia to America?

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.

Can you break a plane window?

Even though it is considered a rare case, it has happened multiple times during commercial airline history. Breaking a window in an airplane is something that might seams not dangerous to many, but in reality, it is.

Why do planes not freeze at altitude?

High Altitudes

Ice crystals cannot bond to aircraft as they are already in a solid form. These ice crystals are dry particles, and they don't cause any icing on the wings and body of an airplane. Once flying above the clouds there is no moisture present in the air.

Can a plane enter space?

The bottom line is that airplanes can't fly in space because there is no air in space. Airplanes rely on air to produce both lift and propulsion. Since there isn't any air in space, airplanes must stay within the Earth's atmosphere.

Why do planes never fly over Antarctica?

No, planes don't fly over Antarctica because it is too remote and ETOPS regulation requires that aircraft are within a certain distance of a diversion airport at all times in case there are engine problems. As there are no diversion airports in Antarctica, routes must stay closer to other continents.

Why don't they put parachutes on planes?

Short answer: There are a few reasons, including the lack of parachute training of passengers, high speed of the airplane, cold temperatures at that altitude, non-conducive design of commercial planes and the cost spike, which make putting parachutes onboard commercial airplanes unviable.

Why don't we fly from Alaska to Russia?

Bering Strait Geography

The smaller of these granite islands is American. These islands can be used as a resting point during a crossing of the Bering Strait, however, being in the proximity of Russia's Big Diomede Island will reduce the chance of a successful crossing from Alaska to Russia.

Why can't helicopters go to Everest?

The air is just too thin for most helicopters to generate enough lift to remain airborne. If the helicopter is equipped to reach that height, making the landing is still an incredibly delicate affair.

Why can't helicopters fly high?

The real reason helicopters don't routinely fly to those altitudes is that they're not designed to. As with everything in aviation, performance is a trade off between engineering, aerodynamics and commercial pressures. There's a big market for helicopters that can fly up to, say, 12-15,000ft (3600-4500m).

Do planes have WIFI?

Inflight Wi-Fi. Upgraded, high-speed Wi-Fi is available to buy on select domestic flights. Browse the internet, check emails and stream video services like Netflix, Hulu and HBO faster than ever before. To see what's on your flight, check your boarding pass or online ahead of time.

Why do pilots say Roger?

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) officially defines the word "roger" to mean "I have received all of your transmission." For example, a pilot would say "roger" in response to an advisory from Air Traffic Control.

Why can we not fly over the North Pole?

Things only get more challenging from there. The polar regions have special navigation concerns in the form of the magnetic fields which permeate them. These can make it difficult for planes to navigate because the polar areas interfere with magnetic navigational tools.

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.

How cold is it in space?

The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite has refined temperature measurements taken way back in 1964. According to data from the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite, the temperature of space is 2.725K (2.725 degrees above absolute zero).

How far can a pilot see at 35000 feet?

At 35,000 Feet: You can see 228 miles from a height of 35,000 feet. At 40,000 Feet: You can see 244 miles from a height of 40,000 feet.

How high can birds fly?

Many bird species live in habitats that are over 13,123 feet (4,000 m) above sea level, and others routinely fly to altitudes of approximately 10,000 to 13,000 feet (3,000 to 4,000 m), especially when they're migrating, said Graham Scott, an assistant professor of biology at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.

Is flying over the North Pole illegal?

In response to this, the FAA has introduced certain requirements for flying over the North Pole. For one thing, there must be at least two “cold weather anti-exposure suits” on the aircraft. In addition, pilots need to undergo specific training for the routes they take and the weather patterns they are likely to face.