How High Do Airlines Fly?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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According to USA Today, the common cruising altitude for most commercial airplanes is

between 33,000 and 42,000 feet

, or between about six and nearly eight miles above sea level. Typically, aircraft fly around 35,000 or 36,000 feet in the air.

How high do normal airlines fly?

Commercial aircraft typically fly

between 31,000 and 38,000 feet

— about 5.9 to 7.2 miles — high and usually reach their cruising altitudes in the first 10 minutes of a flight, according to Beckman. Planes can fly much higher than this altitude, but that can present safety issues.

How high can a 747 fly?

Boeing 747

Lufthansa previously bragged that its 747-400 could reach the highest altitude in its fleet, reaching a max altitude of

44,947 ft (13,610 m)

. Meanwhile, the modern 747-8, which is well deployed by the carrier, has a service ceiling of 43,100 ft (13,137 m).

Why do commercial planes fly at 35000 feet?


A balance between operating costs and fuel efficiency

is achieved somewhere around 35,000 feet, which is why commercial airplanes usually fly at that altitude. Commercial airplanes can climb to 42,000 feet, but going beyond that can be precarious, as the air starts to become too thin for optimum flight of the airplane.

Can a plane fly over Mount Everest?


The first men to fly over Mount Everest did so in an unpressurized biplane

. The two planes fly towards Lhotse and Everest at 32,000 feet. Though the 29,029-foot-high summit of Mount Everest was first conquered on foot by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953, it was conquered by air two decades earlier.

What happens if a jet flies 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.

Do planes fly above rain?

The wings and engines of today’s aircraft work together to produce “lift,” which moves the plane upward off the ground by changing the direction and pressure of the air. In general, rain does not impede this process—

in the majority of cases, the answer to whether planes can fly in the rain in a resounding “yes.”

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 private jets fly so high?

A private jet can fly at a height of up to 45 000 ft, though most cruise at 41 000 ft. This is generally higher than an airline flight and

allows for a more direct route – out of the most congested area of the sky

. A private jet pilot will choose the optimum cruising altitude depending on the distance of the journey.

How high can helicopters fly?

Turbine-engined helicopters can reach around

25,000 feet

. But the maximum height at which a helicopter can hover is much lower – a high performance helicopter like the Agusta A109E can hover at 10,400 feet.

HOW HIGH CAN military jets fly?

Most military planes fly at around

50,000 feet and sometimes higher

. Some rocket-powered planes can fly as high as 100,000 feet but they are specially designed for this purpose.

What plane has the highest altitude?

Question: What is the highest altitude an airplane can fly? Answer: The highest commercial airliner altitude was

60,000 feet by Concorde

. The highest military air-breathing engine airplane was the SR-71 — about 90,000 feet. The highest airliner flying today reaches 45,000 feet.

How cold is it at 40000 feet?

Between 30,000 and 40,000 feet (9,000 and 12,000 m), the cruising altitude of most jet aircraft, air temperature ranges from

-40° F to -70° F

(-40° C to -57° C).

How high do planes fly over the ocean?

According to USA Today, the common cruising altitude for most commercial airplanes is

between 33,000 and 42,000 feet

, or between about six and nearly eight miles above sea level.

Can you breathe at 35000 feet?

Whether you are flying aboard a small Cessna or a jumbo-sized Airbus A380, you can breathe freely inside the cabin without wearing a mask or respirator. Even at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet,

you shouldn’t have trouble breathing

.

Can a dog climb Mount Everest?

In fact,

the 8-month-old mixed-breed dog has become the first dog in recorded history to reach the Mount Everest Base Camp

. Rupee’s ascent is no small feat — the Everest Base Camp sits at a whopping altitude of 17,598 feet.

Why can’t you climb Everest in the summer?

Mount Everest’s

changeable, extreme climate

, in particular, is a determining factor. The summit temperature never rises above freezing, or 0° C (32° F). Its summit temperatures in January average -36° C (-32 ° F) and can drop to -60° C (-76° F), and its average summit temperature in July is -2° F (-19° C).

Can a helicopter reach Mount Everest?

Mount Everest summit landing

On May 14, 2005, at 07:08 NPT in the early morning (01:23 UTC),

Delsalle set the world record for highest altitude landing of a helicopter when his Eurocopter AS350 Squirrel touched down on the 8,848 m (29,029 ft) summit of Mount Everest.

Can a plane accidentally fly into space?

Cars, trucks and SUVs all use air as part of their combustion process. If an airplane flies in space, it won’t be able to suck in fresh air with which to supply its engines, resulting in loss of propulsion. The bottom line is that

airplanes can’t fly in space because there is no air in space

.

What happens if a plane window breaks?

A broken window would

cause the air inside to rush out rapidly, causing little objects like phones and magazines (and even larger ones, like people) to be carried away

. It’s also possible to experience lower temperatures and lower air pressure, and mist or fog from condensation inside the plane.

What happens if a plane door opens mid flight?


The door opening would cause a rapid decompression that would depressurize the plane cabin in a matter of seconds, causing a strong suction pull

. This strong suction pull would cause all loose objects to be sucked outside the plane, including people who aren’t buckled in.

Do planes have WiFi?

Can you get WiFi on a plane?

WiFi is available in the air depending on the airline you’re flying with

. Many airlines, like British Airways, offer WiFi for a small fee, but there are a handful of airlines that have free WiFi onboard, like Emirates and Turkish Airlines.

Do planes land in snow?

Since planes are designed to fly in this temperature, cold weather on the ground does not, by itself, inhibit flight. However, cold weather can impact activities on the ground. While less of an issue for take-off,

an icy or wet ground can extremely inhibit a plane’s ability for landing safely

.

Can planes take-off in lightning?

If you’re wondering if planes can fly in thunderstorms, the answer is yes. Planes can fly in thunderstorms, though

will likely be prevented from taking-off and landing during a thunderstorm due to the danger involved

.

Can a helicopter fly across the Atlantic?


A helicopter can fly across the Atlantic

– and this has been achieved several times. The first transatlantic helicopter flight took place in 1952. The first non-stop transatlantic helicopter flight took place in 1967.

Why is it forbidden to fly over the Taj Mahal?

The Taj Mahal

Although there’s no official no-fly zone over the ivory mausoleum, there is a mile-and-a-half radius above the historic site which security agencies consider to be a no-go when it comes to flying. This is because of

security reasons – as well as risks to the building’s white marble from plane pollution

.

Why can’t planes fly over Antarctica?

What is this?

The polar regions interfere with magnetic navigational equipment, making it harder for planes to navigate

. It can also be difficult for planes to connect with flight controllers because of the location’s isolation.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.