How many feet per minute do planes descend?

A commercial aircraft will typically descend at between 1,500 and 3,000 feet per minute. The Space Shuttle, the most inefficient glider of its time, used a far larger descent angle, descending at 10,000 feet per minute (enough to make you pay attention to the fasten seatbelt sign).



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On final approach with a nominal three degree glide slope, the rule of thumb is to multiply ground speed (knots) by five to get rate of descent (feet per minute). Most airliners approach between 120 and 150 knots. With zero wind, the rate of descent would be 600 to 750 feet per minute, less if there is a headwind.

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Using a time equation is just as easy, and it actually makes more sense when you're flying faster airplanes. A good rule of thumb is to allow yourself two minutes for each 1,000 feet of altitude you need to lose.

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It's called the 3-2-1 rule, and it's the easiest way to remember the regulation. To recap, if the weather at your destination isn't at least 3 SM of visibility and 2000' AGL ceilings from 1 hour before to 1 hour after your ETA, you need to file an alternate.

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Many pilots refer to this as the 1-2-3 rule: Plus or minus 1 hour from arrival, ceilings at least 2,000 feet and visibility at least 3 statute miles.

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Aircraft are put through extreme testing during their certification, but such limits are never intended to be actually faced. The 747 -100, for instance, was tested up to Mach 0.99, almost breaking the sound barrier. Other 747s, such as Air Force One, have approached the sound barrier but never crossed it.

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The idea is to get as much altitude as possible, as close to the airport as possible. So you have a relatively steep initial climb, followed by a reduction of climb angle to cruise climb and a power reduction.

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The short answer is no, and rest assured that the pilots know how uncomfortable turbulence can make passengers feel. And know that no aircraft has ever crashed because of turbulence. Turbulence has not caused an airplane to crash, Biddle said.

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The Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) outlines requirements for FAA Part 135 certificated carriers offering commercial air transport using aircraft with a maximum certificated takeoff weight between 12,500 pounds (5,670 kg) and 100,309.3 pounds (45,500 kg).

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