How high is too high to 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.

How high are you allowed to fly?

If a commercial airplane exceeds this limit, it may experience mechanical failure. While most commercial airplanes fly at 30,000 to 36,000 feet, their respective certified maximum altitude is typically slighter higher. Most commercial airplanes have a certified maximum altitude of about 40,000 to 45,000 feet.

What is the maximum flying height in KM?

Depending on the required spatial resolution and accuracy, aircraft can be commissioned to fly at an altitude anywhere between about 0.1–6.0 km.

At what altitude is there no turbulence?

Q: Is there any altitude where there would be no turbulence? -- Bill B. A: Yes, very high altitude, above 50,000 feet, where there is very little air, has little or no turbulence.

Can planes fly at 50000 feet?

Many business jets can travel even higher, at 50,000 feet, due to having large engines for the small size of the aircraft. The lighter weight enables these aircraft to climb higher more easily than larger jets with many passengers and materials.

Janis Ian - Fly Too High (1979)

What happens if a plane flies too high?

Aerodynamic altitude: If a commercial airliner flies too high, it will encounter less dense air passing over the wings to create lift. This can cause the plane to stall and fall out of control. Depending on the weather conditions and aircraft weight, this can occur anywhere between 40,000 and 45,000 feet.

Can planes fly 70000 feet?

Military Reconnaissance (Lockheed U-2)

The only comparable aircraft would be Lockheed's SR-71 Blackbird. The U-2 was designed as a reconnaissance aircraft in the 1950s and had one engine, made by General Electric. The U-2 had a service ceiling of 70,000 feet.

Why do planes drop suddenly?

Turbulence, which causes planes to suddenly jolt while in flight, is considered a fairly normal occurrence and nothing to fear. The movement is caused by "atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts, or thunderstorms," according to The Federal Aviation Administration.

Why are pilots not afraid of turbulence?

Those irregular motions in the atmosphere create air currents that can cause passengers on an airplane to experience annoying bumps during a flight, or it can be severe enough to throw an airplane out of control. "(The pilots) aren't scared at all. It's all a part of aviation," United Airlines pilot Rob Biddle said.

Can turbulence damage a plane?

It's almost unheard of for turbulence to cause a crash, but it can lead to costly repairs for carriers. Usually, the damage is to cabin components like seats and overhead bins when luggage falls out or people hit them. Turbulence-related damage, delays and injuries cost airlines up to $500 million per year.

Why do private jets fly higher?

Some Commercial Airplanes may have the capacity to reach altitudes higher than some Private Jets but very rarely do stick to the standardization of airspace usage. All the reasons private jets fly at a higher altitude are for increased safety and to reach their destinations faster.

Why do commercial planes fly so high?

The reason planes cruise at high altitudes is that they burn less fuel and can fly faster, as the air is less dense. At 30,000 feet and higher, it is also possible for aircraft to avoid weather systems, making it more comfortable onboard.

Why can't planes fly higher than 13 km?

That lack of oxygen can occur at higher altitudes due to a decrease in oxygen pressure, according to the FAA. As the plane ascends, the level of oxygen decreases, which can cause rapid decompression for an aircraft that is not pressurized in the same way as a commercial airplane. What about helicopters?

Why do planes stop in mid air?

Airplanes stay in the air because of one simple fact-- there is no net force on them. And with no net force, an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays that way, even if it's in midair 10 kilometers above the Earth's surface. Now, of course, it's not like there aren't forces acting on the airplane.

Why can't we just fly into space?

The wing is pushed up by the air under it. Large planes can only fly as high as about 7.5 miles. The air is too thin above that height. It would not hold the plane up.

Do planes fly above storms?

Jet aircraft can safely fly over thunderstorms only if their flight altitude is well above the turbulent cloud tops. The most intense and turbulent storms are often the tallest storms, so en route flights always seek to go around them.

Can turbulence rip off a wing?

Can turbulence be severe enough to cause a jet engine to break off a wing? From a practical point, no, a modern airliner will not lose a wing due to turbulence. Modern airlines are very tough and designed to withstand extreme turbulence.

Why you shouldn't be scared of flying?

Many people are afraid of flying in airplanes, but they shouldn't be. Flying is actually one of the safest ways to travel. In fact, when measured per mile, flying is actually ​far​safer than driving, or travelling by train. Not only is flying the safest ​mode of transport​, but it is also the fastest.

Do pilots get scared flying?

A fear of flying is way more common than you may think, so if you're one of those people who feel their mouth start to go dry and hands get sweaty as the takeoff run begins, you're not alone. The feeling of not being in control is enough to make even professional pilots feel a little uneasy during a flight.

How rare is it for a plane to fall?

Of these 24 million hours, 6.84 of every 100,000 flight hours yielded an airplane crash, and 1.19 of every 100,000 yielded a fatal crash.

Is it normal for planes to crash?

If a pilot doesn't plan the flight properly, gets into bad weather, or doesn't anticipate issues then airplane crashes can happen. Occasionally pilots become disoriented, especially while operating in clouds, under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). Pilot disorientation can lead to stalls or spins that lead to crashes.

Are bigger planes safer?

In addition to wake turbulence, rough weather and winds can pose a bigger threat to smaller planes than large ones. Because of this, flying in a tiny aircraft is not as reliable as airliners that can more safely operate in severe weather conditions, like heavy rain, snow, and high winds.

Do pilots breathe pure oxygen?

Today's fighter pilots therefore operate in cabins pressurized according to a pressurization schedule,15 they breathe up to 100% oxygen,15 and they wear and use pressure breathing equipment.

What is the highest plane flight ever?

On July 17, 1962, American test pilot Robert White took the X-15 to an altitude of 314,688 feet. But it's Russian pilot Alexandr Fedotov who holds the world altitude record, set on August 31, 1977, when his MiG E-266M reached a mere 123,523 feet. What gives?

How close can planes legally fly?

TCAS is a wonderful technology that enhances aviation safety. The fact that your flight did not make evasive maneuvers indicates that the required 1,000-foot vertical separation was maintained. Passengers often think it looks closer when they see an unexpected airplane.