TheBigOne From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2004, 239 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 7159 times:
Returning to LHR from PHL on a BA 777 this week, the PTV 'airshow' indicated the aircraft's altitude as 43,000ft. This is the highest altitude that an aircraft I've been on has reached. Has anyone been on a regular commercial service (excluding Concorde), where the aircraft has flown higher than this?
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EA CO AS From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 12559 posts, RR: 64 Reply 1, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 7138 times:
I've flown at FL410 on 757s a few times, but never higher than that.
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Njdevilsin03 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 713 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 7113 times:
NW7E7 From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 532 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 7084 times:
Timz From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 6466 posts, RR: 8 Reply 4, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 7063 times:
I'll bet no paying passenger has been higher than FL430 on a subsonic airliner-- I doubt that any is certificated to go higher than that.
AzoresLover From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 744 posts, RR: 8 Reply 5, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 7059 times:
410 is it for me, too. I didn't know a regular commercial jet ever went higher than that.
The most surprising plane to cruise at that altitude that I was on was a DL CRJ, believe it or not! It was from Wichita to Cincinnati, and we went up to 410 to go over a storm.
My first time at 410 was on a DL 767-200 - The Spirit of Delta, in fact - on a flight from SEA - ATL.
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KDTWFlyer From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 807 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 3 days ago) and read 7042 times:
I know the certified ceiling on the 747-400 is 45,000ft. and assume at times they have flown that high, which would be awesome. Hop in a Citation X, Learjet 45, or Gulfstream V etc., you could cruise around at 51,000ft. however, the time of useful consciousness at that altitude is probably around 5-6 seconds during sudden decompression so it wouldn't be the safest of ideas. I believe 747SP's routinely flew above 40,000ft. but I'm not certain about that.
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AGC525 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 989 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 7019 times:
Who decides the FL, the Captain?
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StudentFlyer From Australia, joined Sep 2004, 688 posts, RR: 4 Reply 9, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 7016 times:
I think it depends on the Flight plan, and also based on the calculations of the fuel. Usually, a plane, when it has just taken off, it will cruise at a lower altitude, then as the fuel gets less, which translates to less weight, it will go higher. But the captain does have a decision, e.g on emergencies. But most of the time, it depends on the airway used during planning
Convair990 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 162 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 7004 times:
My highest altitude was FL 410 on a NW 752 between MSP-DTW, with second place at FL 390 going from MSP-LAX as well as DTW-MEM, both on NW.
[Edited 2004-10-01 14:48:41]
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Skysurfer From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2004, 1134 posts, RR: 14 Reply 11, posted (8 years 7 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 6986 times:
In 1999 I flew SIN - MAN onboard an SIA 747 and the display in the airplane read just under 45,000ft.
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KC7MMI From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 854 posts, RR: 4 Reply 12, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 6918 times:
Philsquares From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (8 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 6924 times:
The ceiling for the 747/747-400 is 45100. The limit is the ability of the aircraft to make an emergency descent in 4 minutes or less. In fact, if I remember correctly all 75/76/777 are also 45100.
As far as selecting the flight level, ultimately, it's up to the captain. However, the flight plans are normally run to get you the optimum flight level. Plus, the FMS also provides optimum and max flight level for the given weight and temp. On the 400, ideally, you want to fly +-2000 feet of your optimum flight level.
SnowJ From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 207 posts, RR: 6 Reply 14, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 6846 times:
Delta Airlines 777-200ER, 43,000 feet, ground speed 731 MPH. We were hauling some serious a** and way up there to boot! Great tailwind! (ATL-LGW)
SnowJ From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 207 posts, RR: 6 Reply 16, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 6837 times:
BritPilot777 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2004, 1075 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 6835 times:
41,000ft on a UA 777-200 from DEN to EWR a few yrs back, was a really nice flight ) First time i discovered Channel 9!!!
Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8298 posts, RR: 11 Reply 19, posted (8 years 7 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 6749 times:
Got to FL410 on a SAA 747SP on a flight from JNB (elevation 5,577ft) to DUR (elevation 25ft) and the flight time was less than an hour! Had a jump seat directly behind the captain and feeling that thing climb was awesome.
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) First time i discovered Channel 9!!!
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