When airplanes are waiting in the air to land, are they at a dead standstill or just moving really slowly?

Answer 1

The absolute Maximum any aircraft is allowed to fly in pattern is 250 knots.

No, it is NOT taxiing; like someone suggested; that's moving on the ground.

It's called; flying the pattern.

The faster planes usually are flying a higher and larger RECTANGULAR pattern, and the smaller piston planes are flying a pattern at a lower and tighter rectangular pattern.

Patterns are Usually flown 'Left', meaning left turns; but not always.

There are 4 parts to a pattern:

This scenerio I will give will be a Piston aircraft at a non towered Airport where there are no radio communication to ATC, it is widely accepted that the Pilot anounces His/Her position at about 10 miles out on a common advisory frequency called the CTAF, with the intentions of come into the pattern at 900 to 1,000 ft AGL (above ground level) on the Downwind side at a 45 degree angle for best view for avoidance.

The pilot should call out position on the CTAF frequency for that airport at all 'LEGS' of the landing pattern.

At approx. 1/2 mile out the Pilot turns another 45 degrees for the downwind leg parallel to the Runway. At this time, the Pilot is looking at wind direction, any aircraft or other obstructions on the Runway or 'Active'. This is also where You establish the proper speed and trim for what's to come.

At the end of the Runway, or 'The Numbers,' is the Cue to lower engine RPM'S, add first flap, and start a standard 400fpm descent. The Pilot is still parallel to the runway and is going away from it until. . .

When the Pilot looks over their Left shoulder and the end of the runway appears to be between the wing and the tail, that is usually a cue that you are again about a 1/2 mile out and starts a 90 degree turn (still descending) and will add some more flap. This is called the 'BASE' leg of the pattern.
Each time flap is added; a little more speed is bled off, even in descent.

Finally, another turn is made towards the Runway, and this is called the 'FINAL' leg and the last of the flap is added (in a standard landing). Once the plane is over the Numbers of the runway; a pilot may lower the RPMs some more and start a flare; raising the nose up a little.

Then power is dropped and final flare, then. . . touchdown.

Aircraft ALWAYS land into the wind; or as much as possible. That is why they are numbered. Runway 35 - 17 is pointed in the direction of 350 and 170 degrees magnetic. So when the Pilot calls the AWOS or ATIS (automatic Weather Observation Station), they are given up to the minute wind direction and speed (among other things) and they know which direction to land.

If a plane is taking off or has to abort the landing; the takeoff leg is called the 'UPWIND' leg.

Answer 2

ATC instructs the aircraft to hold at a certain point. This is often over the outer marker beacon but can just as well be some defined intersection near the airport. The aircraft reduces speed and begins an oval, racetrack pattern of flight. From a cruise speed of roughly 550 mph, the plane is slowed to around the 200 mph range, depending on the aircraft or ATC instruction. Josh's answer is quite close. In the event of heavy traffic, planes will be stacked one above another at holding points with 1000 feet of vertical separation, or as ATC advises. When the lowest is cleared to land, the others move down a step until their turn arrives.

Answer 3

IF the helicopter is flown so there is not any relative wind, the copter will flow with the easily wind velocity - the position ever the wind is blowing, the helicopter will journey alongside (launch a balloon - a balloon in loose flight has genuinely 0 relative wind - the passengers/pilot do no longer experience a lot if any wind, because it strikes alongside. The rotation of the earth would not parent into the equation except it does grant between the inputs to the final planetary wind kinds - now in case you probably did this same 'concept try' on the moon, and 'hovered' so that you held the celebs 'fastened' for your hover aspect, the moon could certainly rotate below you.

Answer 4

They are at a dead standstill. See when an aircraft flies over the earths surface It has an anti gravity flux created by the speed of the engine spinning. As long as the engines are turning to produce the polarity flux the aircraft can sit at a standstill for hours on end. If you slow one engine, lets say the left engine, the plane turns slowly to the right while at a standstill. That's how they line up so perfect to the runways during a landing. But, if the engine are shut off during a stand still the aircraft will fall straight down. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Not a standstill. Defintely a no-no. If a standfall, then crash, bang, slam into the ground. Goodbye folks!

Before landing they are moving slowly, generally in a slow circle guided by instrucgtions from the control tower, until they receive direcions to land on a designaged runway.

Answer 6

Small planes like the Beech Bonanza has a stall speed of around 60 mph. That is the slowest speed the plane can fly without loosing altitude. For the Boeing 747 the stall speed is around 140 to 165 mph. Taxing is when the plane is still on the ground moving to the runway. When the planes are circling It looks like they are standing still, but they are not.

Answer 7

Generally they (ATC) will vector the aircraft around in a circle, square, etc to keep them out of the way until they (the aircraft) is allowed to land. This is done at a somewhat reduced airspeed, but not "slow". Another way to slow traffic and allow seperation is to put the aircraft into a holding pattern, which is a race track looking course which is established on a certain fix.

Answer 8

Air has to be flowing over an airplanes wings in order for it to remain in flight, (up in the air).

Therefore they CAN'T be at a standstill.

ALSO,.. have you ever seen, either in real life, movies, video, TV, etc. of an airplane in the air AND at a standstill?

Answer 9

airplanes cannot do stand still in the air. the pilots reduce the speed as much as they can to keep the plane in the air.and even before that they ask for permission for a full stop landing. and if they don't have permission they will circle the airport until the runway is clear

Answer 10

They circle at reduced speed at designated hold areas, usually 15-20 miles from the airport. Hold speeds are usually between 150 and 200 mph, about as slow as you want to go in an airliner unless you intend to land soon.