Phoenix-bound airplane turns around due to heat

[jmowreader]

http://www.azfamily.com/story/32257743/flight-to-phoenix-returns-to-houston-due-to-heat

PHOENIX (KPHO/KTVK) - A flight from Houston to Phoenix had to turn around due to concerns about the heat on Sunday.

United Airlines' flight 6186 left Houston and made it into New Mexico.

Due to heat-related concerns, the plane diverted back to Houston International Airport, Ericka Wilkerson with Sky Harbor International Airport said.

The plane was an Embraer 175.

[NuclearDem]

1. But it's a dry heat!

[burrowowl]

2. Not anymore in Phoenix

all the pools, golf courses, etc. have made it humid.
And take into consideration melting asphalt.
Plus difficult to get the right fuel mixture for uplift.

[DemFromPittsburgh]

6. They need to put pools on airplanes.

[pinboy3niner]

9. There'd always be some idiot who yells "Cannonball!"

[Kali]

3. my sister said there were several flights grounded that day

if was freaking hot even down (actually up) where I am.

[Jerry442]

4. "The temperature limitation for this aircraft [Embraer 175] to operate safely was 118,"

Uhhhh.... That's going to be a problem, guys.

On edit: the article was unclear whether this was a blanket limitation or a limitation on this particular aircraft as loaded on this particular day.

[jmowreader]

8. Why didn't they get the temperature at PHX before leaving HOU?

[Thor_MN]

17. Well there's your problem... If it's hot, get rid of the blanket...

Hell, if it's over 100 degrees, don't come to my house, 'cause I'm gonna be buck nekkid.

[Jerry442]

19. {{{Rim shot}}}

[DemFromPittsburgh]

5. Jeez. Just crack a window.

[mcar]

7. I don't think I've ever heard this before

Cold and ice, yes. But heat? This is scary.

[WhiteTara]

10. I hate having to fly into Phoenix!

THe pilot has to fight so hard to land the plane because of the updrafts from the heat. Very bumpy landings.

[localroger]

16. It makes the engines less efficient

...and the engines have to work harder than usual even in normal weather because the altitude is so high that the air is much thinner than in most takeoff/landing situations.

[Ilsa]

18. The extreme heat not only affects mechanical components,

the heat also makes it harder for the plane to get off the ground at all.

Hot air is less dense which affects the output of the engines as well as aerodynamic capabilities, increasing the required runway distance and reducing climb performance. Pilots then have to consider total weight on the craft.

Alot depends on the temperature, airport elevation and the length of the available runways. And getting off the ground is only part of it: once airborne, planes have to meet specific, engine-out climb criterion, so nearby obstructions are another complication.

Lift lift lift

[Aerows]

20. Ambient heat affects fuel/oxygen mix, as well

Even in a semi-closed system such as an airplane has.

[R B Garr]

11. Yikes! The trains had announcements here in SoCal they are running slower due to heat.

The heat can expand the tracks, so they have to slow down.

[thelordofhell]

12. When it gets over 118, the Tarmac is almost spongy hot.....think of lava

So the weight of the aircraft will make the landing gear stick to the Tarmac.......Can't land planes when the temp reaches to 120+

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

13. I thought most runways are cement.

It shouldn't soften in the heat.

[thelordofhell]

14. There's the heat from the landing gear

And also, when the heat climbs to 118+, you can't get enough lift on an airplane to make it up before you run out of runway.........

[Snarkoleptic]

15. Hot air is less dense and produces less thrust than cold air

Also, jet engines create a lot of heat and when the intake air is already really hot, you may exceed the max temp of the air pushed out of the engine.

[Aerows]

21. Yep - high ambient temperature

will affect fuel/oxygen mix.

[Binkie The Clown]

22. That, plus hot air is less dense and creates less lift at the same airspeed.

Planes have to land and take off at a higher speed when the air is less dense either due to altitude or heat. If it's hot enough, the plane can't get enough lift at safe landing speed to avoid hitting the runway too hard.