What is the average altitude in an airplane flight

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. Routes going in the same direction are also often planned so that planes are 1, feet above or below each other to avoid a collision. Have you ever wondered why the view outside your plane window can be sunny one moment and rainy the next upon descending into your destination airport?

That has everything to do with the altitude. Most planes are flying above the troposphere, where weather events usually happen, according to Traveller. Of course, turbulence still happens on airplanes, but you may be surprised to know that it happens a great deal less because of the high altitude of many commercial flights. According to The Points Guy , when planes run into air pockets and fierce winds, air traffic controllers can sometimes suggest different altitudes to avoid it.

According to USA Today , flying higher can actually minimize turbulence. The lower stratosphere is above the clouds, so commercial airplanes are protected against bad weather. The thin air creates less resistance, resulting in increased fuel efficiency and performance.

Airplanes encounter resistance as their engines attempt to propel them through the air. The air is both cooler and less dense in the lower stratosphere. As a result, airplanes can fly through it more easily. How high can commercial airplanes safely fly? For starters, all commercial airplanes have a maximum altitude for which they are certified to fly.

This number reflects the maximum altitude that a commercial airplane has been tested to safely fly at during production. If a commercial airplane exceeds this limit, it may experience mechanical failure. While most commercial airplanes fly at 30, to 36, feet, their respective certified maximum altitude is typically slighter higher. Most commercial airplanes have a certified maximum altitude of about 40, to 45, feet.

Regardless of its certified maximum altitude, if an airplane flies too high, it may fail in one or more ways. So once the seatbelt signs goes off, you can relax and enjoy the flight. Contact us at letters time. By Celine Hacobian. Related Stories. Here's What Travel Experts Say. Already a print subscriber? Go here to link your subscription. Need help? Visit our Help Center. Go here to connect your wallet.