Thursday, 28 March 2024

Why do planes not fly over Mt. Everest or the Pacific Ocean?

Planes do fly over the Pacific Ocean, especially on long-haul routes between continents such as flights between North America and Asia, or between Asia and Australia. In fact, the Pacific Ocean is one of the busiest areas for air traffic due to the high volume of international flights crossing it.

As for Mount Everest, while planes can technically fly over it, it's not a common route for several reasons:

Altitude and Weather: Mount Everest is the highest peak in the world, with its summit reaching over 29,000 feet (8,848 meters) above sea level. Flying at such altitudes presents challenges for aircraft in terms of performance and safety, especially considering the potential impact of weather phenomena like high winds and turbulence.

Terrain and Navigation: The Himalayan region, where Mount Everest is located, features rugged terrain and complex airspace. Navigating around and over such terrain requires careful planning and specialized navigation equipment, which may not be feasible or practical for all flights.

Airspace Restrictions: Some countries impose airspace restrictions around certain landmarks or sensitive areas for security or safety reasons. While there are no specific restrictions prohibiting flights over Mount Everest, airspace regulations and flight paths are determined by various factors including air traffic control, safety considerations, and operational efficiency.

Overall, while it's technically possible for planes to fly over Mount Everest and the Pacific Ocean, flight paths are determined based on factors such as safety, efficiency, airspace regulations, and operational considerations.

There's just no commercial flight path that goes directly over it. You can charter a tourist flight though if you want.

And planes fly over the Himalayas all the time, some of them close to Mt Everest, like this one


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