High altitude flight?

1. What is high altitude flight?
2. What is the highest altitude a plane can fly?
3. Do planes fly better at higher altitudes?
4. Why is it more efficient to fly at high altitude?
5. Can a private pilot fly above 18000 feet?
6. Why do pilots wear oxygen masks at high altitudes?
7. Can a plane fly over Mount Everest?
8. What happens if a jet flies too high?
9. Why is it forbidden to fly over the Taj Mahal?
10. Why do private jets fly at higher altitudes?
11. Do smaller planes fly at lower altitudes?
12. Why do commercial planes fly at 35000 feet?
13. Why do planes do not fly over the Pacific?
14. Do pilots sleep while flying?
15. Do planes fly above rain?

What is high altitude flight?

High altitude begins at around 8,000 feet. Airplanes fly at very high altitudes of up to 30,000 to 45,000 feet. The cabin air pressure in an airplane is adjusted to compensate for these high altitudes. The oxygen level is comparable to levels found in elevations of 5,000 to 9,000 feet.

What is the highest altitude a plane can fly?

Most commercial aircraft are approved to fly at a maximum of around 42,000 feet. This maximum is also known as a 'service ceiling. ' For example, for the double-decker Airbus A380 'superjumbo' quadjet, this ceiling is 43,000 feet. Meanwhile, for the Boeing 787-8 and -9 'Dreamliner,' it is 43,100 feet.

Do planes fly better at higher altitudes?

But a common questions is, do airplanes fly faster at higher altitudes? Technically, no. As altitude increases, air density decreases, which decreases engine performance but gives it better fuel efficiency. ... Each airplane has an optimal cruising altitude range that is the best tradeoff of speed and fuel efficiency.

Why is it more efficient to fly at high altitude?

Cool air expands more when heated than warm air. It is the expansion of the air that drives combustion engines. The second reason is the low density of the air. Low density causes low drag and therefore the aircraft flies much faster at high altitude than on low altitude when it is given the same thrust.

Can a private pilot fly above 18000 feet?

Class E airspace has a ceiling of one thousand feet. Private pilots, however, are permitted to fly in every airspace class except for Class A, which requires an instrument rating. Private pilots who do have an instrument rating, however, are allowed to fly in Class A, but they cannot exceed 18,000 feet in altitude.

Why do pilots wear oxygen masks at high altitudes?

Fighter pilots wear masks to supply them with oxygen to avoid Hypoxia when flying over 10,000 feet. Fighter aircraft have a dynamic pressurization system & when flying at very high altitudes, the pilot will have decreased atmospheric oxygen pressure for breathing. Masks prevent this.

Can a plane 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.

What happens if a jet flies too high?

When the plane gets too high, there is insufficient oxygen to fuel the engines. "The air is less dense at altitude, so the engine can suck in less and less air per second as it goes higher and at some point the engine can no longer develop sufficient power to climb." ...

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 do private jets fly at higher altitudes?

One of the reasons private jets fly at a higher altitude than commercial jets is to avoid heavy air traffic. ... Private jets lack the high-tech sensors and controls of commercial jets, so pilots operating them typically fly at a higher altitude where there's less traffic.

Do smaller planes fly at lower altitudes?

Piston engines do not operate well in thin air, and this is one of the reasons why most small planes fly at altitudes of below 15,000 feet. But in fact, small aircraft generally fly much lower than that for a variety of other reasons. ... Therefore small planes generally fly between 2000 and 10,000 feet.

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. ... Also, oxygen starts to become scarce, making it difficult for fuel engine systems to work.

Why do planes do not fly over the Pacific?

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.

Do pilots sleep while flying?

Do pilots sleep on their job? Yes, they do. And however alarming it may seem, they are actually encouraged to do so. It's good to take a short nap during flights, but there are strict rules that control this practice.

Do planes fly above rain?

Rain doesn't usually affect a flight much. Combining with hefty winds causes extra challenges to flight planning. ... Heavy rain could affect visibility, but planes generally fly on instruments anyway, so this will not be an issue in itself.