Flight Paths

**Ann-Marie** · 20-04-2004, 15:08

Hi Everyone

Here's a question for all you budding flight experts!. Someone in my husband's office wants to know why all flights to Florida (I think its all flights) fly via Iceland/Greenland and then down the East Cost of America.

I thought is was because planes need to fly as close as possible to land in case of any technical problems or is it a distance thing?

All replies appreciated.

Thanks

Ann-Marie

**agod** · 20-04-2004, 15:22

I think its to do with the curveture of the earth, that is the most direct route, if you took a globe and flattened it, you would see that it is more direct than going round the middle, thats my theory anyway.

Regards Alan

**GarethP** · 20-04-2004, 15:25

Yep, distance thing. Closest distance UK/Florida looks like a curve on a flat map passing near Iceland/Greenland.

I did once, however, due to bad weather, fly to Florida over Bermuda...

This map sort of shows it better...

**Mr G** · 20-04-2004, 15:25

I'm not a flight expert, but I would hazard a guess. Here goes !!!. I believe it is to do with wind curents and therefore a fuel cost reason. I believe the wind currents at altitude circulate in particular directions, much like Sea curents do. (I know from my Merchant Navy days that ships travel in routes, not just because of traffic but due to the curveture of the Earth and Sea currents.)
The aircraft cruise at altitude and utilise the air currents, I know that when you return to the UK the wind speed assists in shortening flight times on occasions.
I will wait to be shot down in flames by an expert, but someting to think about until you receive a correct answer!![msnsmile2][msnsmile2]

**Mr G** · 20-04-2004, 15:35

Thats it! They call it "Great circle" in the Merchant Navy. The shortest distance between two points on the Earth is an arc. not a straight line if you know what I mean....I was close !.

**chrisj** · 20-04-2004, 15:45

I also thought it was about being close to land in case of problems etc, but the Arc
theory does sound good

**Ann-Marie** · 20-04-2004, 15:49

Thanks Guys.

You learn a new thing everyday on this forum. Very interesting as well! Have passed the info on to my hubby and his colleagues - maybe now they'll get some work done this morning.

Thanks for your responses

Ann-Marie

**chrisj** · 20-04-2004, 16:39

Just checked with a Plane buff here at work and he says both are right

The planes have to be a certain amount of time from the nearest airport in case of
problems and the Arc is the most direct route

Hope that helps

**floridadreamvilla.co.uk** · 20-04-2004, 16:41

They fly this way solely as it is actually the shortest distance between two points. When you flatten out the world to make a map you actually distort it so it gives false impressions such as you are seeing with this.

Draw a line on the map kindly posted above between the UK and Florida and you will find the shortest distance between the two points (i.e. the line you have just drawn) is actually very close to the path all aircraft fly between the UK and Florida.

On the day the path may vary slightly depending on wind conditions at hight level and forcast wind conditions at these high levels.

The path the aircraft flies has nothing to do with being close to land at all - think of flights from LA to Hawaii for example - modern aircraft are perfectly capable of extended trips over water and have massive built in redundancy just in case any one system fails.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by chrisj
I also thought it was about being close to land in case of problems etc, but the Arc
theory does sound good
[/quote]