Is it safe for planes to fly in freezing weather?

Since planes are designed to fly in this temperature, cold weather on the ground does not, by itself, inhibit flight. However, cold weather can impact activities on the ground. While less of an issue for take-off, an icy or wet ground can extremely inhibit a plane's ability for landing safely.



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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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There is no single maximum wind speed that cancels flights, as it depends on the direction of wind and phase of flight. A crosswind above about 40mph and a tailwind above 10mph can start to cause problems and stop commercial jets from taking off and landing.

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Call the Airline or Check Its Website Often When you have an upcoming flight, you can typically get information on any potential delays or cancellations by calling the airline often or checking its website.

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Absolutely. Pretty much any airplane can easily fly in 25 mph winds. If that is a direct crosswind that might make landing smaller aircraft more challenging, but airliners, no problems.

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Flights can get delayed or cancelled due to snow, even if the weather outside seems fine. This is because the snowstorm may be happening along the flight's route or destination, or high winds can provoke the snow and affect the pilot's vision and control.

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And, because of climate change, there is increasingly more heat throughout the year. Therefore, winter is normally the best time to fly in order to avoid bumpy air. Plus, with reduced convective activity, there is a lesser chance of thunderstorms, so if winds are low, then flights are usually much smoother.

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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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Airplanes fly in minus 56 celsius (-69 degrees Fahrenheit) or colder conditions at altitude, therefore if the fluids can be kept warm, the airplane can usually operate.

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There are no freezers or refrigerators on cargo planes, but they do have a quite wide range of temperature control built into the standard air-conditioning system. This can eventually keep a compartment as cool as 5*C or about 41*F.

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If the airline cancels your flight or it's significantly delayed (a term currently defined on a case-by-case basis) and you're forced to change your travel plans, the Department of Transportation requires airlines to provide a full refund. Unfortunately, getting a refund is often a lengthy and frustrating process.

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No. There are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed. Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for delayed passengers.

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