How Extreme Heat This Week Could Impact Air Travel

16.07.2024 - 20:23 / travelpulse.com / Rich Thomaselli / Mike Whitaker

Soaring temperatures in much of the country – it was 124 degrees one day in Palm Springs last week - has called into question whether the heat index affects an airplane. 

Nearly 50 percent of Americans are under heat alerts this week. 

The extreme heat this week might make it too hot for an airplane. 

Some airlines have been known to cancel flights on a day when temperatures are exceedingly hot because of a phenomenon known as density altitude that can affect a plane’s performance. Basically, the hotter air makes it more difficult for a plane to attain lift. And it also needs more space to take off. 

It can also create more pressure on aircraft tires, which, as we have seen in recent weeks, can be an issue as some tires have fallen off after takeoff or exploded on the runway. 

Airlines have also been known to adjust their schedules because of the heat and payload.

“While we can’t control the weather – which is the number one reason for delays – we plan for and work around convective conditions,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in a statement. “To improve safety and enhance efficient operations on the runway, we are installing innovative new surface surveillance technologies at airports around the nation.”

And an airplane doesn’t necessarily have to be in the air to be affected. The heat can also play havoc with turnaround schedules. Crews on the ground, such as maintenance workers or those loading provisions, might need more frequent breaks which could impact schedules.

Summer might be the most in-demand season, but it also has a propensity for wild weather. 

The FAA says that 63 percent of all air travel delays are caused by weather. 

“The FAA’s job is to get travelers to their destination safely and efficiently. This summer will see more planes in the skies, frequent bad weather, and increased use of the nation’s airspace. We are continuously working to address these challenges,” a statement from the agency said. 

“When air is hot, it becomes less dense due to air molecules spreading out,” Bob Thomas, assistant professor of Aeronautical Science at Embry‑Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus said in a post on the school’s website. “Hot air is thin air. While this reduces the lift on which planes rely for takeoff, the main impact is felt on engine thrust. Aircraft engines will produce less thrust during takeoff and ascent as a result.”

And if the record heat continues, it could cause further problems.

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