The Pacific Ocean is a massive body of water that will require an extremely large amount of fuel to fly across. Rather than flying directly across the Pacific Ocean, most commercial flights take curved routes because they are actually shorter than shooting straight across a distance.
How high do planes fly over the ocean?
But there are good reasons for how high planes fly. In fact, the common cruising altitude for most commercial airplanes is between 33,000 and 42,000 feet, or between about six and nearly eight miles above sea level. Typically, aircraft fly around 35,000 or 36,000 feet above sea level.
Why do planes fly so high over the ocean?
Why do planes prefer to fly over the ocean?
At lower levels, being over sea would typically offer less turbulence, in part because as the ground warms you can encounter rising air thermals. Generally, airliners fly whatever route provides the shortest time, which is not always the shortest distance, often called the Great Circle route.
What happens if a plane goes too high?
If a passenger jet flies too high, it reaches a point called 'Coffin Corner'. This is the point at which the aircraft's low speed stall and high-speed buffet meet and the plane can no longer maintain its altitude which forces it to descend.
Do planes dump fuel in the sea?
Area and flight levelSpecific areas have been designated where fuel dumping is allowed to avoid damage or harm where the fuel may drop; generally speaking, this is above seas or unpopulated areas above land.