Rising temperatures could keep more flights from taking off on time
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Airline passengers know to expect possible flight delays when weather forecasts call for thunderstorms, heavy snow or strong wind. The omens are less obvious on a hot summer day with clear skies. Yet extreme…
Airline passengers often anticipate flight delays due to thunderstorms, heavy snow, or strong winds in weather forecasts. However, less apparent disruptions occur on hot summer days with clear skies. Extreme heat poses challenges for aircraft takeoffs, impacting both passenger and cargo loads. Airplanes operating in high-altitude or short-runway airports face similar issues during less intense heat. Human-induced climate change may exacerbate these disruptions.
During a scorching July 24 flight from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, American Airlines compensated passengers who voluntarily relinquished their seats after temperatures soared to 114 degrees Fahrenheit (47 degrees Celsius). The airline cited standard industry practice of reducing a plane's weight in hot-weather destinations to ensure safe takeoffs.
Retired United Airlines captain Ross Aimer, CEO of Aero Consulting Experts, elucidated the physics behind temperature's impact on aircraft performance. Hot air is thinner than cool air, hindering wing-generated lift and jet engines' thrust generation. Aimer likened this effect to athletes competing at high altitudes, such as during this year's World Cup in Mexico City, where competitors faced thinner air that could fatigue them more rapidly.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
