How quickly does a plane descend?

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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That's why pilots are taught the 1 in 60 rule, which states that after 60 miles a one degree error in heading will result in straying off course by one mile.

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That's why pilots are taught the 1 in 60 rule, which states that after 60 miles, a one-degree error in heading will result in straying off course by one mile. Which means the lake you planned to fly over could turn out to be a mountain.

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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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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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Turbulence, which causes planes to suddenly jolt while in flight, is considered a fairly normal occurrence and nothing to fear. The movement is caused by atmospheric pressure, jet streams, air around mountains, cold or warm weather fronts, or thunderstorms, according to The Federal Aviation Administration.

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If the plane doesn't crash, the descent rate generally can't hurt you. If the plane crashes, the horizontal deceleration is likely to do far more harm than the vertical deceleration. That said, 18,000 feet per minute is pretty fast, like 180 knots, so unpressurized it could cause possibly ear & sinus damage.

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The reason planes cruise at high altitudes is that they burn less fuel and can fly faster, as the air is less dense. At 30,000 feet and higher, it is also possible for aircraft to avoid weather systems, making it more comfortable onboard.

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As the plane descends into ground effect, it may actually accelerate if the engines are producing enough thrust, since in ground effect the plane requires much less power to keep flying. Power from the engines will translate into speed, if not height.

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As part of the testing of a new aircraft, the manufacturer must demonstrate that all passengers can be evacuated in a short amount of time when an emergency arises - within 90 seconds to be precise. If it doesn't comply, the aviation authorities won't approve its safety certification.

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An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

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Flight times within the duty periods are restricted to a maximum of 8 hours for flight crews consisting of one pilot and 10 hours for flight crews consisting of two pilots. The 8-hour and 10-hour flight time limitations include any additional commercial flying performed by the flight crew during the period.

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In 1959, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the Airline Age 60 rule subjecting all commercial airline pilots-or those pilots who fly planes with more than thirty-five passengers-to mandatory retirement at age sixty as a safety precaution.

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