Can certain temperatures affect the ability for an aircraft to land on a runway?

Question

A few years ago some friends of mine were flying out from Perpignan but it got diverted to Caracassonne. The thing is that the weather was clear skies and no wind. The first thing that would pop into my head is that at higher temperatures a plane has to travel faster to stay in the air? It was during July and there was a heatwave and Perpignan is quite small so it was either this temperature thing or turbulence...

Answer 1

Sure, as the air gets hotter it expands and produces less lift. Airliners are only rated to 120 degrees.

When it hit 122 degrees in Phoenix a few years back the airport had to shut down until the temps came down and back into spec.

Answer 2

Indicated airspeed is not the speed through the air.

True airpseed is the speed through the air, and can be slower or faster than indicated airspeed.  (When the density altitude is less than 0 ft, true airspeed is slower than indicated airspeed).

Increases in altitude, heat, and/or  humididty increase density altutude.  That makes the true airspeed faster than indicated airspeed.  A fast enough groundspeed during the rollout can make it difficult  to get stopped on the runway.

Answer 3

the colder the air the more dense it is and there is a greater lift effect on the wing because of it

Answer 4

The higher temperature the less dense is the air, so you need more power to keep above the stalling speed of the aircraft. In cold weather you would need less power to stay airborne.

I have film of a Russian transport using every inch of a Australian runway and staggering into the air because the ground temperature is over 40'c. If the temp had been about 20-22'c that aircraft whould have been off the ground long before being halfway down the runway.

I believe the film is on the Utube somewhere.

It gave the air traffic control boys some heartache and had the rescue crews on their toes expecting a crash.

Answer 5

yes of course it can because the heat can effect the tyres and corse them to get too hot and it can melt the tarmac.

Answer 6

Yes, this effect is known as density altitude, or the alitudue that aircraft thinks its flying at, due to air density, the less dense, the less power the engine can produce, and the faster the aircraft has to fly to produce the same amount of lift.

The aircraft fly at Indicated Airspeed, The ground speed will increase on landing, but not indicated, for no wind conditions. The biggest factor of temperture and humidity is takeoff distance, and max takeoff weight, as distance is increased about 1% for every degree above standard, which is 59 F. So if it is 100F, the takeoff distance is increased about 40%, meaning the distance the aircraft needs to takeoff, can be more than the length of the runway. If this added distance for temp is also combined with the increase in distance for an airport with a high elevation, than the aircraft will never get airborne in the distance of the runway.

Answer 7

Well, if the temperature freezes trace water, then there'll be slippage. That's not likely in July. I'm not sure how much temperature affects the air pressure. However, the pressure is greatest below, rather than above. I don't think the plane would need to make a greater above-below difference on the wings to stay up.

Answer 8

Well your humble opinion is dead wrong TaDa. In high temps approach true airspeeds are higher for a given indicated airspeed my friend. Your rollout will be longer requiring more braking with less directional control.

And Mark, please tell me how true airspeed could EVER be slower than indicated airspeed.

You guys need a refresher course before ya get yerselves hurt.

Answer 9

I have been a pilot since 1985 and IMHO on landing it wouldn't make as much difference as the takeoff distance. It's easier to LAND [rather than takeoff] in hot and high altitudes because you have the inertia of the plane and gravity helping and can  use full flaps and keep the revs up on the motor to help you maintain altitude. A power on landing. Drop her in and hit the brakes! On taking off, throw out the anchor[lighten the load], back up there as far as you can, hold the brakes, lower the flaps, rev 'er up, let 'er go and hang on! You might even think about not taking on a full fuel load. Keep yer boots on you might be needin' 'em.

Answer 10

Yup.

Hot air is called "thin" because it has lower density.

The aeroplane has to fly faster to stay up and this faster approach may increase the length of runway needed to land.

If the airfield has a high altitude, the air is even "thinner".

Calculations for length of runway needed always iclude extra for safety, so the diversion was made.