Ever wonder how flight paths for commercial airliners are chosen? There are roughly 100,000 to 150,000 commercial flights on any given day. Unlike private flights, they typically follow fixed routes and schedules and are open to the public. Each flight path for commercial airliners, however, is carefully selected based on several factors.
Weather Conditions
Commercial airlines consider weather conditions when choosing flight paths. Strong winds, heavy rain, snow or dense fog can increase flight times and pose a safety risk. If weather conditions such as these are spotted, commercial airlines may choose an alternative flight path. Even if the alternative path has a longer distance, it may allow for faster flight times.
Aircraft Weight
An aircraft’s weight may affect its flight path. Some commercial airliners weigh around 100,000 pounds, whereas others like the Airbus A390 tip the scales at over 1 million pounds. Heavy airliners often fly at lower altitudes than lightweight airliners to improve fuel efficiency. Therefore, commercial airlines must consider aircraft weight when choosing flight paths.
Fuel Reserves
Another factor that affects flight paths in commercial aviation is fuel reserves. Regulations require commercial airliners to have extra fuel — beyond the amount needed to reach their destination. Known as fuel reserves, this extra fuel acts as insurance. If a commercial airliner can’t reach its destination due to headwinds or issues, fuel reserves will allow it to reach an alternate airport.
Restricted Airspace
Commercial airlines must consider restricted airspace when planning flight paths. Airspace is considered restricted if it’s subject to limitations. In other words, airliners can only fly in restricted airspace if they get approval. Military bases, for instance, often have restricted airspace. Pilots must get explicit approval before flying in restricted airspace.
Noise
You might be surprised to learn that noise can affect flight paths in commercial aviation. Commercial airliners produce a fair amount of noise. At takeoff, those with jet engines produce about 140 to 150 decibels (dB) of noise. To minimize noise pollution, flight paths may be planned to avoid densely populated residential areas.
ATC
One of the biggest factors that affects flight paths is Air Traffic Control (ATC). In the United States, ATC is the governing body that manages spacing between airplanes. ATC operators communicate with pilots to prevent midair collisions. If a particular flight path is congested, they may reroute pilots, resulting in a different flight path.
