Photo: The Whale

How cold is it at 40000 feet?

around -70 degrees Fahrenheit After all, commercial airplanes can cruise at an altitude of nearly 40,000 feet, where temperatures hover around -70 degrees Fahrenheit.

travelandleisure.com - How Cold It Would Have to Be to Keep Your Plane From Flying (Video)

Who has slept the longest?

In December 1963/January 1964, 17-year-old Gardner stayed awake for 11 days and 25 minutes (264.4 hours), breaking the previous record of 260 hours...

Last updated Mar 20, 2019

Does hair come from mom or dad?

One popular myth is that hair loss in men is passed down from the mother's side of the family while hair loss in women is passed down from the...

Last updated Jul 30, 2021

Promotion

With much of the country in the midst of a deep freeze, travelers may be wondering how cold it has to be for the severe weather to foil upcoming travel plans. But it isn't the cold that's a problem for most aircraft. After all, commercial airplanes can cruise at an altitude of nearly 40,000 feet, where temperatures hover around -70 degrees Fahrenheit. Jet fuel freezes at around -40 degrees Fahrenheit, but it will work just fine as long as it’s kept above that temperature on the ground. Once the plane is moving, the fuel is heated as it passes through the engine — and crew members carefully monitor fuel temperatures during flight. In fact, airplanes are more efficient in low temperatures, as cold air is denser than warm air. That typically means shorter, faster takeoffs and better performance. There is one major challenge with cold weather, however, and that's the accompanying ice and snow. “If ice or snow builds [on] critical surfaces, it will change the pattern of airflow over those surfaces,” Seth Laskin, a former aircraft deicer at Philadelphia International Airport, told Travel + Leisure. “Wings, for instance,” Laskin said, “are very specific shapes — and even a little bit of frost can decrease the efficiency of the wing, leading to longer takeoff rolls and a higher stall speed.” That’s why airplanes must be carefully cleaned and protected during inclement winter weather. In the event of a snowstorm, for example, deicers can treat an airplane’s wings with a special, heated anti-freeze mixture. After a wing is clear of accumulation, it can be sprayed with another anti-freeze product designed to sheer off at take-off — and in the skies, jet wings are heated with bleed air from the engines.

At that point, Laskin noted, snow won’t accumulate because of the speed.

While small planes, like private jets, may not be equipped to deal with extreme icing conditions, commercial jets can typically fly fast enough to avoid build-up during flight. Certain aircraft may also be outfitted with anti-icing features like heated leading edges on the wings and pores that secrete glycol. Of course, cold and wet winter weather can still lead to flight delays and cancellations. Even though airplanes can fly just fine when they're properly deiced, that process can take some time (sometimes an hour or more, depending on the size of the aircraft and rate of accumulation). And severe weather can also impact a number of other critical factors at the airport, like tarmac conditions and air traffic control visibility. As Winter Storm Grayson brings blizzard conditions across the Northeast, more than 3,000 flights have already been cancelled. As the Chicago Tribune reported, severe weather can keep ground crew, like baggage handlers and ramp workers, from spending more than 15 minutes at a time outside, and the equipment used to pump jet fuel can freeze, leading to delays in refueling aircraft.

What should I pack for Doomsday?

Basic Disaster Supplies Kit Water (one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation) Food (at least a several-day supply...

Last updated Apr 23, 2022

What is the real name for brain?

The cerebrum, the largest part of the human brain, consists of two cerebral hemispheres. Each hemisphere has an inner core composed of white...

Last updated Aug 16, 2021

Promotion

What can FSS do?

pilotworkshop.com - How to Contact Flight Service Station - Calling FSS Aviation

Press to play audio

John:

“Flight Service Stations (FSS) provide a variety of services including pilot briefings, weather observations, pilot reports, flight plan processing, search and rescue services, assistance to lost aircraft and aircraft in emergencies. Normally, you would communicate with Flight Service through the frequencies shown on the sectional chart. The Flight Service frequencies are listed in a box above certain VOR stations. The most common frequencies are 122.2, 122.4, or 122.6. Also, most GPS (or iPad apps like ForeFlight) have a listing of the nearest Flight Service frequencies. At times because of the aircraft altitude or distance from the station, you may not be able to receive and transmit on the same frequency. To increase reception range, some Flight Service Stations are also able to transmit over VORs and other Navaids. The notation R shown after the frequency indicates Receive capability (i.e. 122.1R). This means that the FSS can receive on 122.1 and transmit over the VOR frequency. You need to configure your aircraft radio and audio panel properly to utilize this feature. First, tune your Com radio to 122.1. Then tune the Nav radio to the VOR you wish to use. Select both the Nav and the Com audio through your audio panel. You may also have to select voice on your Nav radio. On your initial call to the FSS, make sure you state the frequencies that you are transmitting and receiving on. The FSS specialist may be monitoring multiple frequencies. For example, you would call Rancho Murieta Radio, Cessna One Two Three Alpha, transmitting 122.1, listening Redding VOR, over.”

What are the 5 rules of war?

Principles of the laws of war Military necessity, along with distinction, proportionality, humanity (sometimes called unnecessary suffering), and...

Last updated Aug 27, 2018

Why did Holly quit NCIS?

While it came as a surprise to viewers, it hadn't to actress Holly who felt it was her time to go. She admitted on her website that she was growing...

Last updated Sep 1, 2018

Promotion

Which is stronger PS4 or Switch?

The Switch runs off of a customised Nvidia Tegra X1 chipset, while the PS4 contains an AMD Jaguar CPU and a 1.84 TFlops AMD Radeon GPU. What that...

Last updated Mar 9, 2020

Promotion

Can I take PrEP 2 days after exposure?

Generally speaking, cis-gender men taking on-demand PrEP should continue taking the PrEP medication for at least 2 days after any possible...

Last updated Feb 12, 2020