Are winter flights safe?

Winter conditions are challenging to all aviation and include several hazardous phenomena: Icing (aloft and at ground level), snowfall, reduced visibility and inversion. These phenomena can occur simultaneously or separately , during taxiing, take-off, en-route and landing.



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“Jet fuel begins to gel in extreme conditions and does eventually freeze, typically at minus 40 or so, although additives can be included that reduce that further,” says Haines. “Aircraft at cruising altitude will often experience temperatures of minus 50 to minus 70 F for hours on end.”

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The type of weather that delays and cancels flights is called inclement weather. Inclement weather is categorized as thunderstorms, snowstorms, wind shear, icing, and fog. Any inclement weather is by far the most hazardous. This is the type of weather that causes the most cancellations and delays, not just rain.

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When a plane flies through a supercooled cloud the disturbance causes droplets to collect on the airplane, and since the water droplets are already supercooled they solidify into ice almost instantly. While flying through a large cloud of supercooled water droplets, an airplane can experience considerable ice buildup.

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The reason commercial airplanes fly at 30,000 to 36,000 feet is because it places them in a unique part of Earth's atmosphere known as the lower stratosphere. The lower stratosphere is above the clouds, so commercial airplanes are protected against bad weather.

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During a healthy pregnancy, occasional air travel is almost always safe. Most airlines allow you to fly domestically until about 36 weeks of pregnancy. Your ob-gyn can provide proof of your due date if you need it.

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Summer is the busiest travel season throughout the U.S., and weekends see the most airport traffic. Expect the biggest crowds and highest airline fares on Fridays in June, July, and August.

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More thrust is needed for takeoff. Thus, it is harder to fly at higher altitudes with less dense air (less lift). Engines work harder at higher temperatures, producing less thrust at lower and greater thrust at higher temperatures (denser air).

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By taking a few simple steps, you can stay warm and comfortable during your flight. Dressing in layers, bringing a travel blanket, wearing warm socks, using a neck pillow, and choosing a seat away from the window can all help you stay warm.

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Nothing SHOULD happen, and it happens occasionally but usually with no damage. When lightning strikes an airplane, the current flows through the conductive exterior of the aircraft and exits through another conductive point, such as the tail or wingtip.

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How does weather influence air safety? Weather is a factor in a majority of accidents. Fair weather flying is safest. The most dangerous weather conditions are icing and Level 5 or 6 thunderstorms.

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First, to clarify: Aircraft may perform better in cold weather, but that doesn't necessarily mean safer. The potential for icing and its affect on lift and handling is a dangerous threat in freezing temperatures. But icing aside, cold air can help a plane take off and fly more efficiently.

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The destructive force of thunderstorms cannot be overstated. In addition to extremely heavy rain, they can contain strong wind shear, large hail, and severe turbulence, each of which can damage or destroy an aircraft. And these phenomena don't just occur within the storm itself.

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Routes with the most turbulence
  • New York to London. One of the most popular routes which experience turbulence is flying from New York to London (and also London to New York). ...
  • Seoul to Dallas. ...
  • Flying into certain airports near the equator. ...
  • Flying into Reno, Nevada. ...
  • London to South Africa.


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