What is the average altitude that a commercial airliner flies? If it's 30,000 feet, then that means that?

Question

an airliner flying next to mount Everest would almost crash into it!! Do different airliners fly at different altitudes depending on where they fly? Bonus question- how long does it take for the average airliner taking off to reach cruising altitude? I've seen videos of airliners departing on YouTube and it seems that (even after 10+ minutes of climbing) they never quite reach those really high clouds (the ones that are not fluffy like cotton).

Answer 1

A very intriguingly intelligent question. The average cruising altitude for long haul flights ranges from 30,000 to 40,000 feet depending on the capability of the aircraft.

Aircrafts are cleared to specified heights on each leg of their journey. The ATC will not clear a pilot to fly at 30,000 feet if Mt. Everest is in its route. They will either detour or climb higher.

Aircraft flying all over the world follow a 'quadrantal height separation' system under which each aircraft is allowed certain heights depending on their headings. Each heading has either 'odd' or 'even' thousand feet, or 'odd +500' or 'even+500' thousand feet height allocations. (Degrees - 000-089 even, 090-179 even+500, 180-269 odds, 270-259 odd+500)

Average time to reach a cruising altitude would average between 15-20 minutes depending on very many factors. The clouds you refer to are "Cirrus" which are found in the higher altitudes, even above 30,000 feet (the cirro-stratus).

Answer 2

When an airliner is able to climb unrestricted, it can take 20 to 30 minutes to reach a typical cruise altitude for trips greater than 300nm. Your observations do not account for the airliner being restricted in their climb by Air Traffic Control, so they may have to periodically level-off and stay below the speed limit below 10,000 feet. ATC can also restrict the speed of the airliner. The speed limit below 10,000 feet is 250 knots. In other words, it's not a free-for-all. If an airliner were unrestricted in the climb, and let's say the cruising altitude was 30,000 feet to 40,000 feet, the airliner would likely climb and gradually increase speed to 250 knots to 10,000 feet, accelerate to maybe 270 knots and join up with a mach speed somewhat below the cruise speed until reaching cruise altitude. The increases in speed will reduce the rate of climb. A high take-off weight will also reduce rate of climb. Some airports have extreme noise abatement policies, like Orange County (SNA), in which case a high initial attitude is required. Airliners have various thrust to weight ratios as well. The base of the clouds could be at any altitude.

Answer 3

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RE:
What is the average altitude that a commercial airliner flies? If it's 30,000 feet, then that means that?
an airliner flying next to mount Everest would almost crash into it!! Do different airliners fly at different altitudes depending on where they fly? Bonus question- how long does it take for the average airliner taking off to reach cruising altitude? I've seen videos of airliners departing on...

Answer 4

I dont know if all the other pilots assume you automatically know everything to fill in the blanks or what.
Most airliners will cruise above 30,000ft if they get the chance, but they dont always.
There are things like MAA, Maximum Authorized Altitude, which guarantees reception of certain fixes that might receive interference from other fixes with the same frequency if they go high enough to reach it.
The altitudes are also selected by ATC, and will usually be given to the pilot when he picks up his instrument clearance from ground control or departure control or whatever the airport happens to have.
When flying by instruments, you have to maintain the altitudes approved for the approach, and the altitudes given by ATC.
There are many variables, many have to do with location, because aircraft are usually routed by preferred flight routes, and those have specific altitudes that make traffic separation and guidance easier.
So, in general, most jets can cruise at 40,000ft, but that is not the deciding factor.

Answer 5

Cruising Altitude

Answer 6

Ya. Sometimes it depends. They don't want to waste fuel climbing to 40,000 feet if your just flying San Diego to Sacremento they usually fly 20,000 to 25,000 feet. When I went to Hawaii they flew at 40,000. The average is 30,000 to 40,000 feet. Plus the airplanes are meant to fly at high altitudes they get the best performance and faster speeds.
It also depends on weather. If there's a lot of turbulence they try to avoid it and if there's a jet stream in their direction they usually fly to that to get more speed.
It usually takes about 30-40 minutes to reach cruising. The higher they go they will start to lower their nose and climb a bit slower.
Each aircraft model has a differnt climb speed and distance. In flying there's something called "V" speeds. Basically ratios. Best distance over speed. ETC.
Those clouds, my friend. The fluffy ones are thunder clouds aka towering cumulus/nimbulus, planes shouldn't fly in those. They reach up to about 50,000 feet. The none fluffly ones are pretty much ice crystals and those are really high up. We're talking higher than Concorde high.

Answer 7

the atc will advise them of hazardous areas. For example, the tip of Mount everest may be a prohibited zone. The ATC may also change their course.

the climbing to their cruise altitude is usually based by your flightplan, ATC and traffic. The reason is because most airports have a terminal procedure that they have to follow, done by the clearance. Mostly, its usually 10-15 mins, they are expected at thier flight level. If there is traffic, then you may have to go around or do something that'll take a little longer, but most of the time, they are on thier assigned altitude, and make the traffic pattern turns and then they are on thier way to thier cruise altitude! Hope this helps!

Answer 8

The Minimum vertical separation in the US is 1,000 feet between airplanes... usually, airplanes will climb out over 2,000 feet per minute and most will continue the climb at or around 2,000 per minute... therefore, they would be approx 20,000 ft. above ground level 10 minutes after departure...

The "average" cruising altitude for medium-long haul flights, 1+ hours is in the 30,000's ...

Airplanes are not just flying around randomly, even though it may look that way from the ground... They would not route an airplane directly over Mt. Everest for the reasons you described as well as possible extreme turbulance from rising air coming off the mountain like a ramp...

Answer 9

This question is not unlike the question "how long is a rope?" It simply depends on a number of factors mainly aircraft weight. In our executive Boeing 727 when we're going from Oakland to Denver, relatively light, we can be at forty one thousand feet in about eighteen minutes. When we're full of fuel going to Hawaii it can take us a half hour to get to thirty three thousand. Once we burn off some fuel we can step climb up to a more efficient altitude. Good question though.

Answer 10

hmmm multi leveled question: There is not a typical flight level: It greatly depends on a/c and ceiling capability. The altitude depends upon, ATC (air traffic control), type a/c (aircraft), and destination. Most a/c do not exceede 40k.

The clime is also very dependent upon many factors. Type of a/c and type of engines, Fuel economy, and weight on the a/c... as all a/c have the same 4 forces... thrust, drag, lift, gravity.

What clouds? There are some clouds, that are too high to reach... a wall cloud might reach 50k.