why does plane always fly from east to west or west to east?
why not north to west or south to north?
2007-07-15 03:19:38 · 21 answers · asked by karen 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
because they cant fly west to east
2007-07-15 03:22:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 9⤋
You've confused a "jet plane" for the "jet stream."
The jet stream is a wind current at about 36,000 feet altitude, and it's a westerly wind, meaning it blows from west to east. It's like a river of air in the sky that moves faster than the air surrounding it.
If a jet plane happens to be in the vicinity of the jet stream, it can take advantage of it and kinda "ride the wave" to save fuel and time.
But airplanes fly in all directions. They just have to be sure not to fly into each other!
PS: This has GOT to be the best answer, right? ;-)
2007-07-17 09:34:54 · answer #2 · answered by ╡_¥ôò.Hóö_╟ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Say what!!??? To fly from New York to Rio de Janeiro as far as I know you can only fly north to south, and to fly from Los Angeles to Seattle you fly south to north, unless you're flying Delta in which case you have to fly east first because you have to change planes in Atlanta (a joke at the expense of Delta).
Planes fly in all cardinal directions, the airlines in order to save fuel fly the shortest route available weather permitting. From some points in North America to some points in Europe it is a shorter trip to fly the polar route than to fly over the Atlantic Ocean.
2007-07-15 03:27:20 · answer #3 · answered by acydskull 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Hmmmmm, unless the planet has shifted, the last time I flew from New England to Florida, I was flying south. Now, I may be wrong about this, but I'm pretty certain I was flying south...and when I flew back, I think I was flying north too.
I believe this is referred to as the, "ID 10 T effect".
2007-07-15 03:22:49 · answer #4 · answered by Gary D 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
They don't fly North to South because people who live in the Northern states don't want to fly South for the winter or North for the summer.....Do they?!!
2007-07-15 03:23:29 · answer #5 · answered by blastabuelliac 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There are probably a number of reasons, the most obvious being that passenger traffic often dictates the most profitable/cost effective route, jet streams do have a bearing, as does the means to pick-up passengers during the refuelling stop, which most UK carriers can not do via the USA. The reason why they do not continue in the same direction, is due to airlines flying schedules, ie. the same aircraft operating LHR-HKG-MEL, would be used to operate MEL-HKG-LHR on the return.
2016-05-18 01:31:12 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They fly in all directions. If they didn't no one would be able to fly from South America to North America, etc.
2007-07-15 03:22:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Planes take the quickest route, and they do fly north to south and vice versa. Your question doesn't make sense.
2007-07-15 03:23:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
If you fly non stop from Florida to Massachusetts wouldn't you travel South to North?
2007-07-15 03:22:14 · answer #9 · answered by mattbf2003 3 · 6⤊ 1⤋
This question is not legitimate. Planes fly in ALL directions!
2007-07-15 09:41:06 · answer #10 · answered by texblueskypilot 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is because the West is the best place to be. More people want to be here than anyplace else.
2007-07-15 06:00:58 · answer #11 · answered by eferrell01 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋