What is the average altitude of commercial planes

One of the reasons why flying above, say, 50, feet is so difficult is because the air can actually become too thin so continuously burning the jet fuel needed to fly at these altitudes is extremely difficult, if not impossible. There are, however, some exceptions. For instance, in the SR71 Blackbird set records by flying at over 85, feet and at speeds of up to miles per hour. In many instances, it is merely too dangerous to attempt to do this. In addition to the SR71, which is no longer flying, the U2 is also able to fly higher than average because it can reach an altitude of around 74, feet.

The U2 is a subsonic plane with wings that are very long and thin, making it easier to get the lift it needs to fly efficiently at higher altitudes. 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? Choppers are mainly designed to fly short distances and typically fly much lower than airplanes, normally at under 10, feet.

They are also unable to ascend to the same height an airplane can because instead of wings, helicopters fly by rotating blades. Birds are most likely to obstruct planes at lower altitudes, and can present problems during takeoff and landing. The extreme case of that would be the U. But when planes are at cruising altitude, experts say birds are no longer a threat.

For starters, the engine may suffocate from a lack of oxygen. Engines work by mixing air with fuel to create combustion. The higher an airplane flies, the less air the engines will receive.

The air is less dense at high altitudes, so the wings will produce less lift. When researching some of the different types of washers used in the aerospace industry, you may Hoses are commonly used in both automobiles and airplanes.

Consisting of rubber tubes, they are We use cookies to improve your experience. By your continued use of this site you accept such use. Less wind resistance, more power, less effort, so to speak. Spending less on fuel is also great for airlines, for obvious reasons.

So, flying too high can also cause problems. Plus, the higher a plane goes, the more fuel it has to burn in order to get there so there are some drawbacks with certain altitudes as well. Flying higher means planes can avoid birds usually , drones, and light aircraft and helicopters, which fly at lower altitudes. According to Your Mileage May Vary , the direction in which your plane is traveling can also affect what altitude it will climb to.

Planes flying eastward including northeast and southeast will fly at odd altitudes i.