PHOENIX, Arizona — When Delta Air Lines Flight 555 from Las Vegas was canceled before its July 17 departure to Atlanta, it was so hot on board that people got sick.
FOX News Field Producer Christa Garvin. in a series of tweets Passengers were trapped inside the plane for three hours while the outside temperature was about 111 degrees Celsius. Ambulance crews rescued at least three people who were unconscious from heat exhaustion.
Cities across the country, including Phoenix, are dealing with this summer’s extreme heat. Heat can affect aircraft performance, such as reducing the weight the plane can safely carry. It can get so hot that planes can’t take off.
Airlines have reported few or no cancellations at Sky Harbor in recent days, despite Phoenix’s record-breaking 110-plus days this summer.
But while the National Weather Service predicts temperatures of 119 degrees on the Phoenix subway, just how hot was it in 2013 and 2017 when Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport grounded flights due to the heat?
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Air travelers should be aware of the potential dangers of flying in extreme heat.
Let’s dig deeper:Even without clouds in the sky, heat waves can disrupt planes
How hot is it that you can’t fly an airplane?
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, it depends on the aircraft, altitude and total weight of passengers and cargo.
“Most of the airlines serving Phoenix Sky Harbor have updated their performance tables for their aircraft in recent years, with new data above 122 degrees,” airport spokesman Eric Everts said.
Most passengers who take a major airline at Sky Harbor or take Allegiant Air at Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport are likely to board a Boeing or Airbus jet.
Although these large jets can withstand high temperatures, aircraft manufacturers are careful that there is no temperature at which a particular type of aircraft can or cannot take off. Airbus spokeswoman Christy Tucker told the Arizona Republic that it depends on several factors, including wind direction and speed, air pressure, runway conditions and whether air conditioning is on or off.
“Airlines produce their own performance charts for each airport they operate in, and there may be an upper limit to the outside temperature at which the range of performance data is calculated,” she said.
When was the last time an aircraft thermal landed in Phoenix?
In June 2017, at least 50 regional flights on American Airlines were canceled due to temperatures of 119 degrees Celsius. Regional flights operated under the American Eagle name used Bombardier CRJ aircraft, which cannot fly in temperatures above 118 degrees Celsius.
The 2017 cancellation was the most recent of three flights canceled due to extreme heat in Sky Harbor’s history. The first time it happened was in 1990, When Phoenix hit an all-time high of 122 degreesIn 2013, the temperature reached 119 degrees Celsius.
Now near-record temperatures are returning. Phoenix hit a high of 119 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, and the Bureau of Meteorology predicted another 119 degrees Celsius on Thursday and Friday.
Why is extreme heat bad for planes?
According to the FAA, extreme heat makes the air less dense and creates less lift, making it harder for planes to take off. In some cases, airlines need to reduce the amount of cargo or passengers on board in order to take off in hot conditions.
A plane’s takeoff weight is the most important factor affecting its performance in extreme heat, Tucker said.
The FAA said it will ultimately be up to airlines and flight crews to determine whether a flight is safe based on maximum temperatures and conditions. Federal agencies do not cancel flights.
One of the hottest airports in the country, how has the heat affected your flight?
Data from flight tracking websites flight aware Few flights have been canceled at Sky Harbor in recent days, with 18 cancellations recorded from Monday, July 17 to Thursday, July 20, according to the airline. FlightAware data did not specify why the flight was canceled.
In addition to airlines flying jets that can operate at high maximum temperatures, Sky Harbor’s runways are also capable of taking off and landing in hot weather, Everts said. The runway is made of 16-inch thick reinforced concrete and can withstand the extreme heat and stress of heavy aircraft better than asphalt.
“There is nothing to keep concrete from getting ‘too hot’. Only reinforced concrete designs can withstand extreme temperatures,” Everts said.
How do airline workers survive the heat?
Some airline employees, such as ground staff and baggage handlers, work outdoors.
It can be dangerous in hot weather.
The New York Times ran an article about how extreme heat affects workers.included accounts from Phoenix airport officials. some social media commenters He picked up a passage in an article referring to Prospect Airport Services, one of the airport’s contractors, not allowing its employees to bring in water.
Sky Harbor tweeted in response to concerns: “We are working closely with airport vendors and stakeholders to ensure that airport employees have access to water and receive appropriate information about hydration.”
A spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines told The Republic that its employees are “trained and experienced in operating in the heat” and keep themselves and others safe by drinking water frequently, wearing protective clothing and being mindful of other employees.
Here’s where to contact reporters: Michael Salerno@gannett.com. follow him on twitter @salerno_phx.
