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AS Flt.707 PHX-PDX On Flightaware

KPDX From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 2526 posts, RR: 3
Posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1933 times:

Howdy guys. Just a simple question.

My sister is en route right now PHX-PDX in a AS MD-83, and they are over Nevada, but only flying at FL240 for a cruising alt, and going fairly slow compared to the intended speed.

Why are they flying so low?

KPDX

[Edited 2007-11-27 18:51:44]

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8 replies: All unread, jump to last

Futurecaptain From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 1, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 1914 times:

Looks like they may be trying to avoid some severe turbulence.

http://adds.aviationweather.gov/turbulence/

Click on the top left map for a close up.

[Edited 2007-11-27 18:57:32]

AS739X From United States of America, joined Apr 2003, 5820 posts, RR: 23
Reply 2, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1782 times:

Actually at FL240 it looks like it may have a 1 of the 2 packs inop. I can check the MEL board tomorrow. But I am not throwing away Futurecap's explanation. This morning I sent a few plane out on flight plan at multiple altitudes due to turbulence.

ASSFO

"Some pilots avoid storm cells and some play connect the dots!"

KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 5932 posts, RR: 4
Reply 3, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1768 times:

Quoting KPDX (Thread starter):
Why are they flying so low?

Could also be the altitude with the most favorable winds aloft (sorry, no current medical, so I can't check DUATS for you Sad

Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)

Futurecaptain From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 4, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1685 times:

Quoting KELPkid (Reply 3):
sorry, no current medical, so I can't check DUATS for you

You still have this...
http://adds.aviationweather.gov/winds/

Link near the top for official textual winds aloft.

And they appear to generally be out of the West / North West for most high altitudes.

Quoting AS739X (Reply 2):
Actually at FL240 it looks like it may have a 1 of the 2 packs inop

Check tomorrow to put this to rest. Smile

AlexPorter From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 5, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1666 times:

Every so often a flight does this, like stays down around 250 or something like that. Usually it's turbulence or winds, but as mentioned it could be some sort of mechanical restriction.

KPDX From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 2526 posts, RR: 3
Reply 6, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1631 times:

Quoting AS739X (Reply 2):
Actually at FL240 it looks like it may have a 1 of the 2 packs inop

What does that mean?

View my aviation videos on Youtube by searching for zildjiandrummr12

AS739X From United States of America, joined Apr 2003, 5820 posts, RR: 23
Reply 7, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1502 times:

Quoting Futurecaptain (Reply 1):

Unless the "Pack" was fixed over night before I checked the a/c it was probably a weather related flightplan. So your probably correct that is was due to turbulence avoidance.

Quoting KPDX (Reply 6):

Airplanes have 2 "Packs" which are air cycle mechanisms that converts bleed air from the engines to help provide pressurization to the airplane cabin. If 1 of the 2 are not working, the plane has to stay at 24,000 or 25,000 feet in case it loses the second "Pack". From that altitude it can make it to a safe altitude (quick decent) in the time frame provided by the FAA.

ASSFO

"Some pilots avoid storm cells and some play connect the dots!"

HAL From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 2467 posts, RR: 53
Reply 8, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 1382 times:

I flew in to PHX from HNL last night, and there was extensive moderate to occasionally severe turbulence all over the southwest US from FL250 up. I'm not surprised they filed as 240 because of that. Yes, if they had a pack inop they would do the same, but last night was a rough one and I'm sure it was because of the bumps.

HAL

One smooth landing is skill. Two in a row is luck. Three in a row and someone is lying.

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