Why do planes fly so high?

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Richie

Air density drops with altitude, so the air "up there" resists the plane's motion less. It also means that less noise reaches the ground. Above all, once you've committed yourself to flying, the higher you are, the safer you are. There's less to run into, and should something go wrong, height gives you time and options to do something about it. An airliner that loses power eight miles up could glide the best part of 100 miles in any direction to a safe landing site, and will take over 20 minutes to reach the ground. At a thousand feet, you would have seconds to prepare for landing on whatever is in front of you. Height is good.

chippie_minton

They go faster at high altitudes & are more fuel efficient

noitall Yorkshire England (U.K.)

Better fuel economy

Philip P

so they miss the weather....! To expand on this point. If planes fly as high as they do, they usually are above the clouds, the higher up you go the less friction there is, and also the less weather that can effect you, and the clearer you can see!

kerry k

35,000 to 36,000 feet is roughly 6 to 7 miles. They are that height for best efficiency, and to keep the passengers from being rattled around like the last couple of peanuts in a can that is being shaken. The air turbulence at that height is a lot less than at a lower level. Now, if you like turbulence, like I do, fly on aircraft that can fly, or have to fly at a lower height. It is also a lot safer up there from a lack of traffic congestion. The lower altitudes get very busy with other aircraft, unless of course you do not mind having to wonder if a Cessna is going to run into your aircraft and possibly bring both of you down in flames. The airliners fly at those levels for your well being. If that does bother you, drive, or take a bus. One good trip that way, and I might be willing to bet that on the next trip, you'll be glad to fly.

alan m

To avoid hitting trees, houses, mountains etc. Its really simple.

gromit801

The answers about fuel economy and flight efficiency are correct.

What difference would it make if they flew lower? So you could see the ground rush by faster? I doubt someone scared of flying would like that.

Also, more organized routes and flight patterns up higher. Down lower you have to deal with helicopters and private aircraft buzzing about.

cazza h

i love flying,id rather fly than go in any other transport,mainly cos i know rather o lot on how the plane works,flying is the safest form of travel.if you take into consideration how many people get killed on our roads every single day and count them up,you'd be in for a shock,when you hear of a plane crash its rare, few ,and far in between,its more of a shock because of the amount of passengers being killed,that's the scariest part,of an aircraft going down,
my advice is if you feel like this don't fly

nojuicy

Several reasons air turbulence is less above 30,000 feet. Smaller aircraft fly at the lower altitudes. Your ground speed is greater at higher altitudes, and your fuel economy is better at those altitudes. Besides you shouldn't really worry about how high you are. Think about it. Your going to die falling from 300 feet just as much as 30,000.

Milan K

Less oxygen in the air the higher you go. So it is easier for the train to travel, less air resistance, faster, more "green" and enviormentaly friendly. But God darn terrifying.

Bella

Angel ! in Silver !!

because they could not fly lower with the size that they are,,,,need force of air beneath them,

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