It's so hot in Phoenix, they can't fly planes

The extreme heat forecast for Phoenix on Tuesday has caused the cancellation of 20 American Airlines flights out of Sky Harbor International Airport.

According to a statement from American Airlines, the American Eagle regional flights use the Bombardier CRJ aircraft, which has a maximum operating temperature of 118 degrees. Tuesday's forecast for Phoenix included a high of 120 degrees, and the flights that are affected were to take off between 3 and 6 p.m. MT.

Customers affected were told to contact American Airlines for rebooking options or to request a refund.

Extreme heat affects a plane's ability to take off. Hot air is less dense than cold air, and the hotter the temperature, the more speed a plane needs to lift off. A runway might not be long enough to allow a plane to achieve the necessary extra speed.


https://www.usatoday.com/story/trav...o-hot-phoenix-they-cant-fly-planes/410766001/

Cigar said:

The extreme heat forecast for Phoenix on Tuesday has caused the cancellation of 20 American Airlines flights out of Sky Harbor International Airport.

According to a statement from American Airlines, the American Eagle regional flights use the Bombardier CRJ aircraft, which has a maximum operating temperature of 118 degrees. Tuesday's forecast for Phoenix included a high of 120 degrees, and the flights that are affected were to take off between 3 and 6 p.m. MT.

Customers affected were told to contact American Airlines for rebooking options or to request a refund.

Extreme heat affects a plane's ability to take off. Hot air is less dense than cold air, and the hotter the temperature, the more speed a plane needs to lift off. A runway might not be long enough to allow a plane to achieve the necessary extra speed.


https://www.usatoday.com/story/trav...o-hot-phoenix-they-cant-fly-planes/410766001/

Click to expand...

I wonder if a sprinkler system on the runway might cause a massive local cool down to allow the planes to take off?
The water added to the very dry air would both cool and increase the density!

Cigar said:

The extreme heat forecast for Phoenix on Tuesday has caused the cancellation of 20 American Airlines flights out of Sky Harbor International Airport.

According to a statement from American Airlines, the American Eagle regional flights use the Bombardier CRJ aircraft, which has a maximum operating temperature of 118 degrees. Tuesday's forecast for Phoenix included a high of 120 degrees, and the flights that are affected were to take off between 3 and 6 p.m. MT.

Customers affected were told to contact American Airlines for rebooking options or to request a refund.

Extreme heat affects a plane's ability to take off. Hot air is less dense than cold air, and the hotter the temperature, the more speed a plane needs to lift off. A runway might not be long enough to allow a plane to achieve the necessary extra speed.


https://www.usatoday.com/story/trav...o-hot-phoenix-they-cant-fly-planes/410766001/

Click to expand...

Well, the plane certainly can fly, the problem is the paperwork. The planes in question are CRJ 200's that are operated by Mesa Airlines and Skywest Airlines for American Eagle. Those regional airlines don't have the planes certified to fly at certain temps. They could have them certified and get the paperwork resolved, but they weigh the cost versus the very rare times that the temps are too high.

Back in 1990, I was working in an office at the airport, and it hit 122, and our airline couldn't fly the 737-200 and 737-300 because our charts only went to 120. The 757 and 747's were OK to fly...that was a mess.

As for today...its gonna be hot...yesterday was 118 and it was a furnace. I was supposed to go to a legal workshop today, but the presenter got stuck out of town, so it will be virtual. I'm not going outside much today. I don't think the temp got below 100 until after midnight last night.

longview said:

I wonder if a sprinkler system on the runway might cause a massive local cool down to allow the planes to take off?
The water added to the very dry air would both cool and increase the density!

Click to expand...

Now that's a Really Good Idea, why don't you give them a call ... Collect

longview said:

I wonder if a sprinkler system on the runway might cause a massive local cool down to allow the planes to take off?
The water added to the very dry air would both cool and increase the density!

Click to expand...

Not worth the expense or the time to get it installed. You would have to bury all the water lines, ensure that it didn't have any parts that could come off and risk damaging a plane, and, in the end, it would just be hot water that rapidly dries up. And....when the plane rotates and is off the ground, its back in 120 degree weather and you would still have the same issues.

beefheart said:

Not worth the expense or the time to get it installed. You would have to bury all the water lines, ensure that it didn't have any parts that could come off and risk damaging a plane, and, in the end, it would just be hot water that rapidly dries up. And....when the plane rotates and is off the ground, its back in 120 degree weather and you would still have the same issues.

Click to expand...

I was thinking of that first few feet, I guess it happens there several times a year, so they just live with it.

longview said:

I was thinking of that first few feet, I guess it happens there several times a year, so they just live with it.

Click to expand...

We hit 118 yesterday, and we hit that once last year, but its been a while since 120. That day in 1990 was rough, I had to walk out onto the ramp to catch a bus to the terminal, it was like walking into a blow drier. I have the A/C at 81 and I am freezing! I'll probably hit the pool at some point today, but when it is that hot, the pool feels more like slightly thicker air. I gotta fill my hummingbird feeder, the little guys sucked it dry yesterday and they are looking at me through the window....LOL

[h=1]We Need to Say “Yes!” to Air Conditioning[/h] Guest Essay by Kip Hansen Contrary to the common mantra that we must turn the thermostat up on our air conditioners to cut down on electrical energy usage — in order to save the planet from sure destruction — a recent article in the New York Times offered a different perspective. “If You Fix…
Continue reading →

Jack Hays said:

[h=1]We Need to Say “Yes!” to Air Conditioning[/h] Guest Essay by Kip Hansen Contrary to the common mantra that we must turn the thermostat up on our air conditioners to cut down on electrical energy usage — in order to save the planet from sure destruction — a recent article in the New York Times offered a different perspective. “If You Fix…
Continue reading →

Click to expand...

AKA have your cake and eat it.

Just the magic wand of having a new coolant that works as well as the CFC ones did but is not harmful to the world.