Triple digit temperatures are expected to cause flight delays this week.
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Iit must be hot out there. The Northeast and Midwest are in a heat wave with sky-high temperatures and humidity throughout the week, according to the National Weather Service, which warned that the looming heat dome “could see temperatures surpass the century mark.”
This will be uncomfortable for many airplane passengers for several reasons. First, extremely high temperatures may force airlines to reduce the weight carried by planes, which can cause flight delays and bump passengers.
By 1 p.m. ET Monday, more than 2,500 U.S. flights were delayed — a huge jump from the roughly 1,400 delays reported at 10 a.m., according to FlightAware, a free app that provides real-time, historical and predictive flight information. tracking data. Expect the number of delayed flights to increase throughout the day, possibly surpassing last Friday’s more than 8,300 delayed flights.
“Hot temperatures reduce the density of the air, and that means airplanes can produce less power or thrust,” explains Dr. Bob Thomas, assistant professor of aeronautical science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. “When it’s that hot and you’re generating less thrust, you basically have to reduce the weight of the aircraft to use the available runway and also meet the FAA’s climb restrictions.”
Dr. But Thomas says there is no magic temperature that will universally trigger the decision to cut the number of passengers off a flight. “It’s literally airport by airport, and even runway by runway, because different airports and different runway lengths are different. In mountainous areas, they are at a higher altitude, which is even worse,” he says, adding that in an area like Phoenix, it can be so hot that airlines have no choice but to cancel flights. “Basically the runways are too short.
According to asphalt rules implemented by the Department of Transportation (DOT), airlines are required to disembark passengers after three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international flights. But extremely hot days can mean passengers sit in steamy cabins for hours as the plane gets stuck on the tarmac, either waiting to take off or after landing.
The worst case scenarios make it into the newspapers. Last July, a United Airlines flight was delayed for seven hours at Newark Airport, stranding passengers without food, water or air conditioning, according to local reports. That same month, a four-hour Delta flight took place on the Las Vegas tarmac on a day when temperatures peaked at 111 degrees, reportedly without air conditioning. The heat inside the plane was so intense that several passengers reportedly vomited and fainted, and two people ended up in hospital, Reuters reported.
An aircraft’s cooling system basically only works when it’s in the air. When the plane is flying at 35,000 feet and taking in sub-zero air, the cabin crew can set the cabin temperature to whatever they want.
“Air conditioners on airplanes work differently than you might expect,” says Dr. Thomas. “Usually you have an air conditioner and a big hose that pumps cool air into the plane when you’re at the gate. So once you’re disconnected from that and you’re sitting on the ground and there’s no air flowing through the plane, there’s basically no way to cool the air before it gets into the cabin.”
Tips for summer flying
A weather problem in one region can become a nationwide air travel problem as airlines reuse planes and crews for multiple trips throughout the day, creating a ripple effect. For example, a late morning flight delay in Boston may prevent a plane from reaching Dallas for an early afternoon departure, which in turn may delay the same plane’s late departure from Chicago.
The easiest way travelers can reduce the risk of flight disruption is to book an early flight when temperatures are cooler. “Especially down in the Southeast or anywhere in the South where there are afternoon thunderstorms every day, it’s always smarter to make the very first morning flight,” says Dr. Thomas. “You avoid the risk of storms delaying and rerouting and things like that.”
FlightAware can tell you if your plane is on schedule or give you early warning that a problem might be brewing. Enter your flight information and then click the “Where’s my plane now?” link directly below the flight number. If your flight is delayed, you can take action accordingly. FlightAware also allows you to sign up to be notified via email or SMS when there are changes related to your flight. You can search by flight number or city pairing.