Perhaps you have already noticed, but a flight between Paris and New York is longer than the flight in the opposite direction. However, you have the same plane and the same crew. But the time difference is here. Then why? The reason is to look at the side of the winds at altitude.
The planes are not like trains. A TGV journey will have the same duration to go and return (if you take exactly the same path). For aircraft This is different as you can see that flight times are not the same according to the direction taken. Thus, it is faster to fly from West to East than the reverse.
Does Earth’s rotation influence the speed of a plane?
Everyone knows Earth is turning on itself in a day. Its rotation speed is about 1670 km/h eastward. However, unlike what one might think, the rotation of the Earth has no influence on the speed of a flight. In fact, when you rise above the ground, you keep the same speed of rotation as if you stand both feet on Earth. This speed is 1670 km/h, but we don’t realize it, because everything around us moves at that same speed, like the air that supports birds... and aircraft.
A plane will take no longer time to travel if it flies to the East, as the atmosphere turns at the same speed as Earth. However, winds can influence the speed of the aircraft...
The influence of jet-stream
Between 10 and 16 kilometres of altitude, the aircraft must face the jet-stream or current-jet. This fast and confined air stream moves from west to east and consists of permanent winds. A sort of air corridor that will speed up the aircraft if it goes to the east and slow it down if it flies to the west because it will be counter-current.
Jet-stream is formed through a thermal imbalance. Temperature differences between the high atmosphere and the surface as well as between the equator and the North Pole. This phenomenon then causes winds that can reach between 110 and 360 km/h. It measures several thousand kilometers long, hundreds wide and only 1 to 5 kilometers thick.
You will have understood it, it is quite natural that the journey between New York and Paris is faster than the reverse. So don't laugh at the pilots during your flight.
Main photo credit : Pexels – tookapic
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