Who flys higher than FL410?
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Who flys higher than FL410?
I am looking for a list of airline operators that fly above FL410, and therefore have one of the pilots on oxygen when above this height? Any help out there?
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ok, so biz jets, and Qantas do? but no one has a pilot on oxygen?
Is New Zealand the only place to have the requirement in the regs for 1 pilot to be on oxygen when above FL410?
I do know that the certain plane types can go higher than FL410 in design, just who actually operates them higher than that.
777 can get up higher too.
Is New Zealand the only place to have the requirement in the regs for 1 pilot to be on oxygen when above FL410?
I do know that the certain plane types can go higher than FL410 in design, just who actually operates them higher than that.
777 can get up higher too.
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The B777 can operate up to 43,100 feet, making F/L 430 an available level.
It's not a level regularly used, as F/L 430 only becomes Optimum Level at very low weights, typically the positioning flight of an empty aircraft. Even then, on the few times that I've gone there on the FMC recommendation, fuel consumption is way above CFP, whereas at lower levels the CFP is unerringly accurate.
Regards,
Old Smokey
It's not a level regularly used, as F/L 430 only becomes Optimum Level at very low weights, typically the positioning flight of an empty aircraft. Even then, on the few times that I've gone there on the FMC recommendation, fuel consumption is way above CFP, whereas at lower levels the CFP is unerringly accurate.
Regards,
Old Smokey
Maybe the poster thinks your legs get longer at higher altitude (less air pressure ?) ??
Otherwise I too struggle to see the connection. Maybe it was intended for another thread and SASKATOON's oxygen isn't working ?
Otherwise I too struggle to see the connection. Maybe it was intended for another thread and SASKATOON's oxygen isn't working ?
Further to Furball's post, I remember reading a report about the flight of some of BA's old 747-100's to the desert going back a few years ago.
The a/c in the flight described had been stripped of interior fittings so was very light and was consequently able to cruise at FL450 for the latter stages of the flight.
Comment made was that the a/c had over 100k hours on the clock and it achieved it's highest ever cruise on it's final flight.
The a/c in the flight described had been stripped of interior fittings so was very light and was consequently able to cruise at FL450 for the latter stages of the flight.
Comment made was that the a/c had over 100k hours on the clock and it achieved it's highest ever cruise on it's final flight.
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ok, well, in the case of Qantas, the Australian regs only require a pilot on oxygen above FL450, compared to FL410 for NZ regs!!
So this explains why others are happily flying around higher!
I can't suss out the FAA website to look up their one, but it should be someplace under use of Oxygen Equipment.
So this explains why others are happily flying around higher!
I can't suss out the FAA website to look up their one, but it should be someplace under use of Oxygen Equipment.
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FAA altitude/oxygen regs are in 14 CFR 121.333 and 91.211
And it's 35,000' MSL for part 135 operators. (§135.89) Any charter pilots typically calculate their MSL altitude while cruising at FL350? As to why flight levels are specified in parts 91 and 121 while MSL is specified in part 135, I guess it's just one of those things. The devil is in the details!
Best regards,
Westhawk
Best regards,
Westhawk
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DeltaT,
Biz jet pilots do need (and use) oxygen mask. My experience is from Bombardier's Global where one person on the deck is always with a mask (provided the appropriate FL).
Learjet's are cruising at FL510, by the way and that is the highest that I am aware of.
Cheers
Biz jet pilots do need (and use) oxygen mask. My experience is from Bombardier's Global where one person on the deck is always with a mask (provided the appropriate FL).
Learjet's are cruising at FL510, by the way and that is the highest that I am aware of.
Cheers
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I've taken an empty 747-300 freighter to FL450, guess we weighed about 190 tonnes. Like "old smokey" says the burn was no great advantage from the CFP FL390. Reckon it helped to save a bit on the descent though. Waffles about when you try to land that light too.