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How high can planes legally fly?
Most commercial aircraft are approved to fly at a maximum of around 42,000 feet. This maximum is also known as a ‘service ceiling. ‘ For example, for the double-decker Airbus A380 ‘superjumbo’ quadjet, this ceiling is 43,000 feet.
What is the highest altitude an airplane can reach?
45,000 feet
Question: What is the highest altitude an airplane can fly? Answer: The highest commercial airliner altitude was 60,000 feet by Concorde. The highest military air-breathing engine airplane was the SR-71 — about 90,000 feet. The highest airliner flying today reaches 45,000 feet.
What happens if an airplane keeps flying up?
When the plane gets too high, there is insufficient oxygen to fuel the engines. “The air is less dense at altitude, so the engine can suck in less and less air per second as it goes higher and at some point the engine can no longer develop sufficient power to climb.”
Can a person fly over the service ceiling?
No person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another. If you do operate above the service ceiling and something goes wrong, then the FAA could bust you on that. Trying to get over mountains at or close to your service ceiling could be an example.
Is there a ceiling on the altitude of a plane?
So far as I know, recently certified planes will have a “maximum authorized altitude”, in lieu of a service ceiling. That’s contained in Operating Limitations, so is limiting. In a normally aspirated Cirrus SR22, it’s 17,500′, though the plane can certainly still climb well at that altitude.
What’s the maximum service ceiling for a Boeing 787?
The Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 are rated to a maximum service ceiling of 43,100 feet. This figure is roughly similar for most other commercial widebody aircraft. Photo: Getty Images
How tall does a commercial plane have to be to fly?
Most commercial aircraft are approved to fly at a maximum of around 42,000 feet, also known as a ‘service ceiling.’ For example, for the Airbus A380, this ceiling is 43,000 feet, while for the Boeing 787-8 and -9, it is 43,100 feet (41,100 feet for the 787-10).