Why do commercial planes fly so high?
Why Do Commerical Aircraft Fly So High? The reason aeroplanes fly so high is due to improved fuel efficiency. A jet engine operates more efficiently at higher altitude where the air is much thinner, allowing an aircraft to travel faster whilst at the same time, burning less fuel.
How high do commercial jetliners fly?
between 30,000 and 45,000 feet
Again, the limits are classified. Most commercial jetliners cruise somewhere between 30,000 and 45,000 feet above mean sea level. At higher speeds and altitudes, there isn’t enough oxygen in the air to continuously burn the jet fuel required to stay up there.
Why are planes pressurized to 8000 feet?
Most aircraft cabins are pressurized to 8,000 feet above sea level, an altitude that lowers the amount of oxygen in the blood by about 4 percentage points, researchers say. He added, “We concluded that passenger and crew comfort would be enhanced” if the cabin was pressurized to 6,000 feet during long-duration flights.
Why do planes depressurize?
When a cabin depressurizes, the percentage of oxygen in the air stays about the same, but the molecules get further and further apart, Padfield explained. Then the air expands through an expansion turbine that cools air in the same way you can cool air by blowing it out of puckered lips.
What’s the average altitude of a private jet?
The average cruising altitude for commercial jets is about 35,000 feet. In comparison, the average cruising altitude for private jets is about 41,000 feet — with some private jets flying as high as 45,000 feet. One of the reasons private jets fly at a higher altitude than commercial jets is to avoid heavy air traffic.
How high can a commercial jet aircraft go?
For example the new generation Boeing 737 is certified to 41,000ft (7.8 miles). Many military jet aircraft are able to fly considerably higher. Often, the plane itself is not pressurised and instead the pilot wears a pressure suit that provides him with a pressurised environment.
Why do private jets fly higher than commercial planes?
Flying higher is usually better for avoiding weather that can even affect commercial airliners in the 30ks. There is much less traffic up above 40k and it allows the private jets to fly more direct routes at a faster speed and more safely as well.
What happens to jet engines at higher altitudes?
At higher speeds and altitudes, there isn’t enough oxygen in the air to continuously burn the jet fuel required to stay up there. Engines designed to work very well that high, have serious limitations when they are operated closer to the surface.
What’s the average altitude of a commercial plane?
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 many Boeing jetliners are in the world?
Today, there are more than 10,000 Boeing commercial jetliners in service; airplanes that fly farther on less fuel, airplanes that reduce airport noise and emissions, airplanes that provide passenger-preferred comfort while delivering superior bottom-line performance to operators. Leadership for today and tomorrow.
Why do jetliners reach their end of life?
Jetliners eventually reach end-of-life due to airframe wear, obsolescence, or fuel inefficiency. Some jetliners are temporarily taken off flying status, and must be stored in a environment that is conducive to preservation. Others are kept for spare parts for flying aircraft.
Why are planes able to fly so high?
How high do planes actually fly? One reason that planes cruise above the clouds is so they can fly fast. 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.