Title: Why planes fly at 35,000 feet: The reason for high altitude flights
Headings: Why planes fly at 35,000 feet: The reason for high altitude flights
Why planes fly at 35,000 feet: The reason for high altitude flights
Why do planes fly so high?
The higher the better
Traveller Newsletter
How's the weather up there?
Avoiding heavy traffic
In the event of an emergency
How cold is it up there?
Is there a minimum flying height?
Well, why not fly at the minimum height required to clear any obstacles?
What about a maximum?
The Telegraph, London
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Content: You know the feeling when you see nothing but bluebird skies from your window seat, only to descend into your destination airport to dreary drizzle. The troposphere – that is the atmospheric layer closest to the ground – is home to most of the world's weather phenomenons. Usually measured up to 36,000 feet, this is where clouds are most likely, as well as heavy rains and high winds. Aircraft prefer life in the stratosphere, which means less turbulence. Avoiding heavy traffic
Flying so high also means that aircraft are able to avoid other airborne traffic, such as light aircraft or helicopters, which fly lower, as well as insects and birds. Light aircraft do not have pressurised cabins, therefore stick below 10,000 feet. Any higher and the pilot is required to don an oxygen mask to keep conscious. In the event of an emergency
Should something bad happen to an aircraft at 35,000 feet, like losing power in its engines, the pilot has much longer to deal with the situation, than if the aircraft was just at 10,000 feet. This may sound silly, but remember that planes can still land safely even if both engines fail – so having more time to get your ducks in a row before attempting such a manoeuvre could save lives. See also: