Too hot to fly...

[marylander1940]

American Airlines grounds Phoenix flights as temps reach 120 degrees

 

American Airlines (AAL) has canceled more than 40 flights out of Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) in Phoenix on Tuesday because of the extreme heat.

 

The canceled itinerary is impacting flights scheduled to arrive at or depart from PHX June 19-21, between 3 pm and 6 pm.

 

Seven flights were canceled Monday, with seven flights more flights delayed Tuesday, as temperatures reached 120 degrees in Phoenix. Customers affected by cancellations can rebook free of charge, or cancel their trip for a full refund.

 

“The high temperatures during this specific time period may impact flight operations, specifically regional flights that operate on smaller aircraft,” American Airlines said in a statement to Yahoo Finance.

 

Weather forecasters predict that temperatures will reach 120 degrees on Tuesday, which has caused the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue an excessive heat warning in Central Arizona. The NWS predicts that temperatures will reach 116 degrees on Wednesday. American Airlines does not anticipate further disruption, but will reevaluate in the morning.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/american-airlines-grounds-phoenix-flights-temps-reach-120-degrees-171928093.html

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

I have flown out of Sky Harbor when temps were above 115 and they needed to lighten the plane to get enough lift in the thinner air. I think as many as 10% Of the passengers were asked to take later flights.

[+ sync]

I'm not a frequent flyer. I was never aware that high air temperature could be an issue for aviation. Very interesting.

[bigvalboy]

I've been to Bullhead City AZ during a July 4th weekend...it was 121 degrees. It wasn't pretty!

[bobchitown]

I'm not a frequent flyer. I was never aware that high air temperature could be an issue for aviation. Very interesting.

 

Yep. Hot air means thinner air and the planes would fall out of the sky at full load.

[LaffingBear]

American Airlines grounds Phoenix flights as temps reach 120 degrees

 

American Airlines (AAL) has canceled more than 40 flights out of Sky Har9bor International Airport (PHX) in Phoenix on Tuesday because of the extreme heat.

 

The canceled itinerary is impacting flights scheduled to arrive at or depart from PHX June 19-21, between 3 pm and 6 pm.

 

Seven flights were canceled Monday, with seven flights more flights delayed Tuesday, as temperatures reached 120 degrees in Phoenix. Customers affected by cancellations can rebook free of charge, or cancel their trip for a full refund.

 

“The high temperatures during this specific time period may impact flight operations, specifically regional flights that operate on smaller aircraft,” American Airlines said in a statement to Yahoo Finance.

 

Weather forecasters predict that temperatures will reach 120 degrees on Tuesday, which has caused the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue an excessive heat warning in Central Arizona. The NWS predicts that temperatures will reach 116 degrees on Wednesday. American Airlines does not anticipate further disruption, but will reevaluate in the morning.

 

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/american-airlines-grounds-phoenix-flights-temps-reach-120-degrees-171928093.html

Impact. Because impact is a punchier word, and all news these days is showbiz. And reporters aren't bright enough to know whether effect or affect is correct.

 

For those surprised that heat can affect performance.... imagine standing in line at a high altitude airport, and finding they're weighing passengers... because in certain conditions, a plane with all seats filled won't get off the ground.

[marylander1940]

I'm not a frequent flyer. I was never aware that high air temperature could be an issue for aviation. Very interesting.

 

Me neither... I found out today when I read this that airplane can't "get a lift" if it's 120 f or 50 Celsius.

[marylander1940]

I've been to Bullhead City AZ during a July 4th weekend...it was 121 degrees. It wasn't pretty!

 

no wonder they call some airports in AZ and NM Sunports.

[+ bashful]

It has happened before. Atmospheric conditions beyond what's contained in the manuals equals no-go.

[+ azdr0710]

but not as hot as Tristan making freeways melt....true story!.....well, maybe it's gotten embellished a bit....I guess

[LADoug1]

It has happened before. Atmospheric conditions beyond what's contained in the manuals equals no-go.

Glad to know this.

[tanman4u]

For an airplane to fly it takes "x" number of molecules of air flowing over the wing (creating lift). The higher the temperature of air the faster the plane has to go to get that lift.

 

I remember years ago Braniff (yes that's how long it's been) had a red 747 that flew from Dallas to Hawaii. In the summer that flight would be delayed for hours until it had cooled off enough for it to get off the ground. Even then watching it struggle to gain altitude was amazing. I wondered sometimes if it was shaking houses in Ft Worth because it was still flying so low.

[+ Charlie]

American has a number of flights between PHX and PSP, so several flights out of PSP were cancelled yesterday. Since it hit 122 officially here in PSP, I assume they would have been cancelled at this end anyway. Yesterday was the most uncomfortable day I can remember in the 13 years I have lived here, although the highest the thermometer on my house registered was only 119.

[+ glutes]

Darling, darlings! Another reason I fly Private, my G650 can take-off in about any condition:

 

https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/32473/what-runway-length-and-width-is-needed-to-land-a-g650-and-take-off

[MikeBiDude]

Impact. Because impact is a punchier word, and all news these days is showbiz. And reporters aren't bright enough to know whether effect or affect is correct.

 

For those surprised that heat can affect performance.... imagine standing in line at a high altitude airport, and finding they're weighing passengers... because in certain conditions, a plane with all seats filled won't get off the ground.

I've been in line to get weighed. In the Pacific Northwest, prior to boarding small float planes. I was obese at the time so it was stressful, I never got bumped or asked to pay extra.

[+ purplekow]

I understand that United does not bother to weight the passengers, they just pull people off until the weight feels about right.

[+ azdr0710]

was on a regional jet-type aircraft once and they had to rearrange the passengers within the cabin....passenger weight wasn't an issue, just weight distribution within the aircraft.....I sorta liked the seat-of-your-pants vibe.....

 

another time on a commercial seaplane in the US Virgin Islands, the safety demonstration consisted of the pilot in the open cockpit turning around and quickly yelling out where the life vest was and to please read the safety info

[tanman4u]

was on a regional jet-type aircraft once and they had to rearrange the passengers within the cabin....passenger weight wasn't an issue, just weight distribution within the aircraft.....I sorta liked the seat-of-your-pants vibe.....

 

another time on a commercial seaplane in the US Virgin Islands, the safety demonstration consisted of the pilot in the open cockpit turning around and quickly yelling out where the life vest was and to please read the safety info

That is still done on the seaplane.

[+ purplekow]

I had a similar experience on the seaplane from St Thomas to St Croix, though on the way back, they were a bit more forma.

[+ Charlie]

On a 747 from Chicago to Osaka, my spouse and I were the only people in first class. When they moved people up to fill the first class seats, the attendant told us it was to redistribute the weight. (But maybe she said that just to make us feel better about being the only passengers to have paid for those seats.)

[bobchitown]

I understand that United does not bother to weight the passengers, they just pull people off until the weight feels about right.

 

I'm sorry. But I'm tired of United bashing, and this one doesn't even make sense.

[+ azdr0710]

I'm sorry. But I'm tired of United bashing, and this one doesn't even make sense.

 

PK was making light of the famous recent incident.....

 

[Epigonos]

MANY, MANY years ago a friend and I were considering a stop in Khartoum, Sudan on a trip to Egypt and Greece. I wanted to see the confluence of the Blue and White Niles. Our plans changed immediately when we were informed that at the time of year of our planned trip all planes landed in Khartoum ONLY between the hours of midnight and 4 a.m because the rest of the time it was so hot that the asphalt on the runways melted.

[bobchitown]

PK was making light of the famous recent incident.....

 

 

Yes. I get it. It has nothing to do with hot weather which is what this thread it about. No airline would pull people off randomly and then hope the weight is OK.

[Nvr2Thick]

"Too hot to fly..."

 

I was hoping this thread would be about attractive and well-hung escorts who, after being checked out in the security scan, get pulled aside for private strip-search and "interrogation" by horny TSA agents.