What happens when ice and snow accumulate on an aircraft’s surface? they disrupt the smooth airflow over the wings.

Ice can distort the flow of air over the wing, diminish- ing the wing’s maximum lift, reducing the angle of attack for maximum lift, adversely affecting airplane handling qualities, and significantly increasing drag.

The process by which a layer of ice (icing) builds up on solid objects that are exposed to freezing precipitation or to supercooled fog or cloud droplets.

All forms of ice can spoil lift and may have a catastrophic effect on an airborne aircraft. Ice is hazardous to flight as it disrupts airflow, increases weight, and adds drag. Ice forming on propellors and/or engine inlets can cause severe vibration and/or damage if ingested.

Induction icing is particularly dangerous because it impairs engine performance and can occur even when structural icing conditions aren’t present. When ice buildup blocks airflow to the engine, it can lead to a reduction of engine power or even complete engine failure.

A: Airliners are certified for flight in known icing. Pilots are provided weather information to inform them of the icing conditions, but light or moderate icing does not require a routing change. Severe icing is avoided and flights may have to divert in such conditions.

The ice alters airflow over the wing and tail, reducing the lift force that keeps the plane in the air, and potentially causing aerodynamic stall—a condition that can lead to a temporary loss of control.

To avoid ice, the pilot ought to check potential ice conditions before the flight. They exist when temperature is in freezing range (+2°C to -20°C) and there is visible moisture or precipitation….To avoid an icing encounter:

1. develop a pre-flight plan;
2. know where the ice is;
3. know where it is safe.

That’s because when there’s a lot of ice or snow on an airport runway, planes can’t safely taxi, take-off or land. Just like with your car, icy conditions can reduce traction for a plane’s landing gear. After a heavy snowfall, a loss of traction can lead to hydroplaning or other challenging and dangerous effects.

Turbulence isn’t dangerous Pilots find it perplexing that so many people are afraid of turbulence. It’s all but impossible for turbulence to cause a crash. We avoid turbulence not because we’re afraid the wing is going to fall off but because it’s annoying. —Patrick Smith..

Danger of the turbulence to passengers and crew Despite the discomfort—and fear—it induces, turbulence is a common part of most flights. When turbulence occurs, the risk of losing balance and getting an injury when moving around the cabin increases.

It is difficult to say what flights will be cancelled during a snowstorm. The airport does not shut down completely often but rather landings/take offs are slowed and then the airlines make decisions on which flights to cancel to accomodate the slowdown.

Deicing aircraft De-icing fluid may be sprayed on an airplane before departure to remove any snow or ice built upon the aircraft’s flight surfaces. If they remained, they could disrupt the airflow over the flight surfaces.

Get Re-booked. If you’re in the airport and the snow is expected to clear up soon, the airline may be able to book you onto a later flight. Many airlines have a policy that if they can’t accommodate you, they will get you a seat on a competitor’s flight without charge.

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 plane fly if all its engines have failed? A passenger aircraft will glide perfectly well even if all its engines have failed, it won’t simply fall out the sky. Aircraft are designed in a way that allows them to glide through the air even with no engine thrust.

No a plane doesn’t stop in midair, planes need to keep moving forward to remain in the air (unless they are VTOL capable). What it can do is simply turn around or go over/under the obstruction. VTOL means vertical takeoff and landing. It essentially means they can hover in place like a helicopter.

A helicopter that is flying forward can stop in mid-air and begin hovering very quickly. We’ll cover this signature maneuver next.

The main reason for having multiple wings in the initial years of the aviation was the lack of availability of materials with sufficient strength. The main advantage of the biplane is that the wings could be shorter for a given lift.

21 hours

Singapore Airlines currently operates the longest flight in the world, a whopping 9,534-mile nonstop from Newark to the Lion City.

nine hours

Pilots don’t earn a flat annual salary like some professions. Instead, they’re paid an hourly wage for each flight hour flown, along with per diem. Most airlines guarantee a minimum number of hours per month, so that pilots can count on at least a minimum amount of monthly income.

When flying long missions (say over the Atlantic, or missions lasting more than 4 hours) they can do 1 of 2 things. They have little pee bags containing a material that absorbs urine. They just pee in the them and stick them to the side. Or, they can wear adult diapers.

Thousands of US airline pilots carry guns in the cockpit. Why do they do it – and how are they trained? A year later, the Arming Pilots Against Terrorism Act was passed, allowing US pilots – working for US airlines – to carry guns in the cockpit.

Regional airlines in the United States do not require pilots to have a four year college degree. However, the major United States airlines do require that pilots have a four year degree. Even if a pilot isn’t looking for work with a major airline, a college degree will help him land interviews with smaller airlines.

While pilots travel often, it isn’t always fun to do alone. As a pilot, it is likely that you will have access to discounted (and sometimes free) plane tickets for family and friends, which means good deals on great vacations.

Flight attendants and pilots get there own designated sleeping areas on long-haul flights. While, flight attendants are supposed to sleep in bunk beds, pilots take rest in separate sleeping compartment.