Why do flights to Japan go over Alaska?

Commercial airlines typically fly a Northern curved route that goes over Canada and Alaska. Therefore, they spend less time over the Pacific Ocean, allowing for emergency landings if needed.

Why do planes not fly over the Pacific?

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.

Why do flights go over North Pole?

Thank science: In order to prevent the aircraft's fuel from reaching its freezing point of around -50 degrees Fahrenheit, transpolar flights occasionally descend to a lower altitude over the Arctic, sometimes by as much as 10,000 feet, to an altitude ever so slightly warmer for the fuel—and ever more picturesque for ...

Why don't planes fly straight across the Atlantic?

Answer: It is shorter to fly the Great Circle route than a straight line due to the circumference of the earth being so much greater at the equator than near the poles. Q: Captain, I often follow trans-Atlantic flights between Europe and the USA.

Why do planes not 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 Planes Don't Fly Over the Pacific Ocean

Why is New York to London so turbulent?

One of the most popular routes which experience turbulence is flying from New York to London (and also London to New York). This is mainly due to the disruption from the jet stream, although most pilots will do their best to fly north or south around it, even if it means a longer flight time.

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.

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.

Why can't we go to the North Pole?

This means the region experiences up to 24 hours of sunlight in the summer and 24 hours of darkness in the winter. Since the North Pole sits on drifting ice, it's difficult and expensive for scientists and explorers to study. There isn't land or a place for permanent facilities, making it difficult to set up equipment.

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 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.

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.

Why does it take longer to fly back from Hawaii?

The reason it took so much longer to fly back is the jet stream, a river of fast-moving air high up in the sky. Jet streams are usually about 100 miles wide. They can be thousands of miles long and are found all over the earth. To be called a jet stream, the wind must be moving faster than 60 mph.

Do planes ever fly over Antarctica?

Because there are no flights over Antarctica, it is difficult to get "route-specific training" for routes that don't exist.

Where is the most turbulent place to fly?

Why is no one allowed to go to Antarctica?

Well, that is because visiting Antarctica is a privilege and a responsibility at the same time. The Antarctic Treaty includes a protocol on environmental protection, which designates the continent as a natural reserve. There is a set of rules any visitor has to follow.

Why can't you fly over the North or South Pole?

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.

Can you go to Antarctica without permission?

Antarctica is not owned by anyone and does not have its own government so you do not need a visa to visit (although you may need a passport to re-enter your own country afterward). If you are a citizen of one of the countries that have signed the Antarctic Treaty, you will need permission to visit Antarctica.

Why do planes not fly over North Korea?

Since 2016, airlines have mostly avoided North Korean airspace due to the risk of unannounced missile launches, such as the salvo of cruise missiles fired this morning.

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.

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 happens if both engines fail on a plane over the Atlantic?

If all of an airplane's engines fail simultaneously, the pilot will perform an emergency landing. As the airplane descends and decelerates, the pilot will begin to search for a safe area to perform an emergency landing. Ideally, the pilot will land on a nearby landing.

Are flight attendants afraid of turbulence?

“Turbulence doesn't scare me, but unruly passengers do,” she admits. “You never know what someone is capable of doing, and there's no calling the cops or the fire department at 30,000 feet. It's just us and them.” Whatever the flight attendant is scared of, you'll never know it.

Has a 747 ever broken the sound barrier?

Key. While aircraft are put through extreme testing during their certification, these are never intended to be actually faced. The 747-100, for instance, was tested up to Mach 0.99, almost breaking the sound barrier. Other 747s, such as Air Force One, have approached the sound barrier but never crossed it.