FAQs
That said, planes generally fly at higher altitudes — usually between 30,000 to 42,000 feet — because the air gets thinner the higher you go. When the air is thinner, planes can fly faster and more efficiently, using less fuel to maintain the speed required to develop lift.
Why do airplanes fly at 35,000 feet? ›
That said, planes generally fly at higher altitudes — usually between 30,000 to 42,000 feet — because the air gets thinner the higher you go. When the air is thinner, planes can fly faster and more efficiently, using less fuel to maintain the speed required to develop lift.
Why don't pilots like to fly at 10,000 feet? ›
One reason, though, governs and it's due to not aircraft design, but human physiology. By 10,000 feet, most people, including pilots, are feeling the effects of altitude. In an unpressurized aircraft, this is about where you'd start breathing from a supplementary oxygen source.
Why don t planes fly at 45000 feet? ›
As planes climb, the air becomes thinner, meaning there's less oxygen for both the engines and the passengers. To address this, cabins are pressurized to maintain comfortable oxygen levels. If an aircraft ascends too high—above 45,000 feet—it could encounter performance issues.
Do planes fly at 40,000 feet? ›
Congestion and Traffic: Commercial Aircraft: Commercial airliners typically cruise at altitudes between 30,000 and 40,000 feet. At these altitudes, there is significant air traffic, particularly along major air routes.
Can you jump from a plane at 35000 feet? ›
The highest verified altitude you can skydive from in the United States is 30,000 feet. For context, this is in the range of standard cruising altitude for a commercial airline and about 7 miles up.
Can you open a plane door at 35000 feet? ›
“The plane door can be opened mid-flight, but it depends on the cabin pressure,” Danielle Keenan, flight attendant for JetBlue, tells Matador Network. “If we're cruising at 35,000 feet and the cabin pressure is at 8,000, it would be incredibly hard to open.”
Do airline pilots live longer? ›
A difference in life expectancy of more than 5 years longer was found for our sample of retired airline pilots. Half of the pilots in this sample retiring at age 60 were expected to live past 83.8 years of age, compared to 77.4 years for the general population of 60 year-old white males in 1980.
What does coffin corner mean in aviation? ›
Coffin corner (also known as the aerodynamic ceiling or Q corner) is the region of flight where a fast but subsonic fixed-wing aircraft's stall speed is near the critical Mach number, at a given gross weight and G-force loading. In this region of flight, it is very difficult to keep an airplane in stable flight.
What happens if a plane flies at 60000 feet? ›
Flying beyond the altitude of 60,000 feet entails the risks of structural failure, physiological hazards, and decreased operational efficiency. Commercial airliners are specifically engineered for lower altitudes, and exceeding these prescribed limits may also give rise to aerodynamic complications.
Yes, some military aircraft, like the Lockheed U-2 and the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk, are capable of reaching altitudes higher than 60,000 feet. However, commercial airliners typically operate at lower altitudes for passenger comfort and efficiency.
Can planes fly at 80,000 feet? ›
Therefore, the maximum capture area for both inlets to take in air is between fifty and sixty square feet. This is just about enough to fly an airplane like the A-11 at 80,000 feet at Mach 3.
What is the highest feet a plane can fly? ›
The maximum height that a commercial airplane is allowed to reach when they fly is 42,000 feet, as this is the universally approved maximum altitude. This max altitude for airplanes is known as the “service ceiling.” Most commercial air jets fly at such a high altitude because it is known to optimize efficiency.
What speed do planes fly at? ›
The average cruising airspeed for a commercial passenger jets is 480 to 575 mph or 770 to 930 km/h (between Mach 0.74 and Mach 0.8).
At what altitude do you need oxygen? ›
For best protection, you are encouraged to use supplemental oxygen above 10,000 feet MSL. At night, because vision is particularly sensitive to diminished oxygen, a prudent rule is to use supplemental oxygen when flying above 6,000 feet MSL.
What happens if a plane goes 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.
What aircraft can fly at 50,000 feet? ›
Advanced military fighter jets like the F22 Raptor, F35 Lightning or the Eurofighter Typhoon can reach altitudes of between 50,000 – 65,000ft.
Why would a plane fly at 8000 feet? ›
At high altitude, aircraft fuel burn is much less per mile travelled when compared to low level flight because of the reduced aerodynamic drag (due to thinner air) and improved jet engine efficiency. This means a jet aeroplane can fly much faster whilst using less fuel at a high altitude.
At what altitude can planes no longer fly? ›
The maximum height that a commercial airplane is allowed to reach when they fly is 42,000 feet, as this is the universally approved maximum altitude. This max altitude for airplanes is known as the “service ceiling.” Most commercial air jets fly at such a high altitude because it is known to optimize efficiency.
Can a plane fly at 300000 feet? ›
The maximum height a passenger plane can fly varies depending on the type of aircraft. Most commercial airliners are certified to fly up to 42,000 feet (12,800 meters). This is because the air is thinner at high altitudes, which reduces drag and allows the aircraft to fly more efficiently.
