Aircraft Cruise Altitude and Speed Profile Optimization in a Real Atmosphere Automation and Remote Control
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It's time to kick back and wait for that refreshment cart to come around. But how many of us have stopped to ask ourselves how high do planes fly? 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. As the aircraft consumes fuel, its weight decreases and the optimum altitude for fuel economy increases. For traffic control reasons it is usually necessary for an aircraft to stay at a cleared flight level. On long-haul flights, the pilot may ask air traffic control to climb from one flight level to a higher one, in a manoeuvre known as a step climb.
How fast can military fighter jets fly?
If the VFR Pilots are cruising at the 1,000’s PLUS 500 feet, who is flying at each of the 1,000 foot levels? When operating above 18,000 feet MSL, maintain the altitude or flight level assigned by ATC. If you're getting bounced around because of turbulence, your passengers might not be very impressed. One place you're almost guaranteed to find turbulence is around shear layers in the winds aloft. And mother nature isn't always cooperative when it comes to flying.
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Flight levels are described by a number, which is this nominal altitude (“pressure altitude”) in feet, divided by 100. Therefore an apparent altitude of, for example, 35,000 feet is referred to as “flight level 350”. IFR Pilots flying on a magnetic course (track) of 180 degrees through 359 degrees should fly on an even thousand foot MSL altitude.
Turbulence
While you obviously want to consider your headwind or tailwind along your route, you also want to make sure you're keeping yourself clear of any significant shear layers aloft. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for restricted areas and other special use airspace, but a quick check on your sectional chart or ForeFlight can clear up any questions about that. “This is what you get when you poll 1,000 people,” he said, nodding to how little common ground we have on some things. Mike Arnot is the founder of Boarding Pass NYC, a New York-based travel brand, and a private pilot. The other day we were going to Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) and Fltplan.com suggested FL260 for cruise. I never expected it to work, but since it was a slightly different route, we decided to try.
What happens if a plane flies too low?
The short answer, according to Kyrazis, is that turbojet engines burn less fuel as the air density gets lower. At or Below 3,000Remember, these VFR and IFR cruising altitudes only apply to pilots operating aircraft at more than 3,000 feet AGL (Above Ground Level). Pilots operating at or below 3,000 feet AGL may fly at other altitudes. Also, these cruising altitudes do not apply when the airplane is turning or manoeuvring while practicing flight manoeuvres such as stalls, steep turns, and other activities. Every aircraft will have a different ideal altitude where it operates at maximum efficiency.
VFR and IFR Cruising Altitudes
As we grasp the complexities involved, we gain a deeper insight into the remarkable fusion of science and innovation that propels aviation to new heights. Next time you board a flight, appreciate the engineering marvel that propels you through the skies. Whether it’s the gentle ascent during takeoff or the smooth cruise at 30,000 feet, aircraft speed plays a vital role in our modern world of travel. In an ideal situation, the forces acting on an aircraft in flight can produce no net external force. In this situation the lift is equal to the weight, and the thrust is equal to the drag.
Don’t go barefoot
Car drivers know they have their own side of the road to travel on. There is even a yellow line separating the two sides of the road. Cars on each side of the road must stay on their own side to avoid a collision with oncoming traffic. Similarly, pilots use different cruising altitudes for vertical separation.
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They’re called jet routes, and ATC uses them to separate planes by a certain distance or altitude (generally around 1,000ft vertically) and adjusts them to control traffic flow. Birds are most likely to obstruct planes at lower altitudes, and can present problems during takeoff and landing. Airways aircraft that landed on the Hudson, but that’s not typical, Jorgenson says. Over 42,000 planes take flight in the U.S. every day, with 5,000 in the sky at any given time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Coordinating that many arrivals, departures and flights without collisions requires masterful planning, particularly when it comes to how high planes fly. We started filing FL250, a good altitude for the Beechcraft King Air 350i in terms of speed and fuel efficiency.
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. But what about that shorter trip—a couple hundred miles or so—especially if you’re flying near large metropolitan areas? However, for all the reasons mentioned above, this is mainly theoretical, and most commercial airplanes fly much lower than this. It should be noted that every airplane has a certified maximum altitude. During test flights this maximum is exceeded slightly to verify the that airplane remains safe should it have cause to ascend from that limit. The highest certified altitude of an airliner was Concorde’s 60,000 feet.
Grotts said seeing people walk around barefoot is a huge pet peeve. I tend to agree and always feel a little guilty if I take my shoes off, which I usually do only on overnight flights. I was on the aisle, he was in the middle, and yet his foot was under the seat in front of me. He got the message, moved his foot to the right side of the seat support, and my personal bubble was once again intact. How do you make sure you're clear of terrain and obstacles on your route? If you're flying VFR, one of the easiest ways is to open your sectional chart and look at the MEF (Maximum Elevation Figure) altitudes for your route.
These airplanes need to make sure that they stay within this range to be as safe as possible. Commercial airlines need to operate as efficiently as possible in order to make money—and not just by charging for in-flight Wi-Fi. This makes fuel economy one of the most important factors in how high planes fly.
So, everything else being equal, this would be the place to be on all cross-country flights. 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. Consider aircraft weight, forecast air temperature, winds, and any expected turbulence levels, and you can find the answer in your airplane documents. Or better yet, any of several performance calculation services can nail the answer for your specific airplane. It is not essential for aircraft to avoid bad weather, but it is a good idea.
Each individual airplane will have a different “sweet spot” that translates to the most efficient ride for them. Obviously, not every flight on a 747 will be operated under this very specific condition, but when the atmospheric conditions and weather allow for it, every pilot should aim for this height. Including the flight's direction, turbulence, and flight duration.
This means that planes flying in opposite directions to each other are at least 1000 feet apart, so avoiding a possible collision and making for safer flights. Of course, turbulence still happens on airplanes, but you may be surprised to know that it happens a great deal less because of the high altitude of many commercial flights. According to The Points Guy, when planes run into air pockets and fierce winds, air traffic controllers can sometimes suggest different altitudes to avoid it. According to USA Today, flying higher can actually minimize turbulence. Because the planes are headed the same way along a track, controllers make use of every available flight level and not the "east is odd, west is even odder" rule above.
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