*What is the maximum operating ceiling of a typical jet? -40,000 feet or so, if we are talking about commercial transport types *Why will a jet not fly this altitude? -Pressurisation is usually the main issue- the difference in pressure is too high for the aircraft body to cope with *When will a jet be able to fly this altitude? -If and when the cost of stronger body is less than the extra fuel needed to carry it around *Why do jet a/c fly as high as possible? -Thinner air, less air resistance (in simple terms) *If turboprops are more efficient a/c why do they not climb that high? -Not sure to be honest *What would you do if you had a radio failure on take off? -There are almost always specific or generic radio failure procedures, see bellow *You are on a flight from Stansted to Amsterdam and just after T/O are at your cleared level of 2000ft when you have complete radio failure. What are your actions? -http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/aip/current/enr/EG_ENR_1_1_en.pdf Section 4.2.2 and 4.2.4 *Which is faster, London to New York or New York to London? Why? -New York to London (usually) as the jetstream across the Atlantic is in that direction- hence a greater groundspeed for most of the trip toward Europe. EDIT: No idea why, but all the formatting has disappeared, and I can't be bothered fixing it.