Do passenger jets now fly at lower altitudes than they did 15 years ago?

Question

Do passenger jets now fly at lower altitudes than they did 15 years ago?

Answer 1

higher not lower. They fly higher because if you fly low weather will affect the flight.

Answer 2

No, although this is going back further than 15 years. When the passenger jet was first invented it flew lower than passenger jets do now as the jet turbine engines on modern jets work most efficiently when the air is thinner.

Answer 3

They do fly lower during landing do to the new landing systems and the newest is the gps approach.. But during the flight they actually fly higher to stay clear of the weather and for lighter traffic.

Answer 4

No, over the years, the altitudes have become higher.  15 - 20 years ago, the most congested (higher) altitudes seemed to be from about FL290 (29,000 feet) to FL350.  Now, FL330-FL410 seems to be the stratum of choice.

Answer 5

No. Flights 15 years ago flew at relatively the same altitude as there werent many aircraft. Due to air traffic congestion and more varied aircraft ranging from a 4 seater cessna to an 800 seater Airbus A380, airspace is regulated into different zones and different altitudes. Aircraft are allotted altitudes by the ATC based on whether they are arriving or departing, the distance to be covered, fuel and mechanical considerations etc. So its a very dynamic place and the same aircraft passes through several altitude zones during its flight.

However, Aircraft flying near the airport have been given clearances to fly lower during final approach due to the reduced jet noise emissions.

Answer 6

No, indeed, as airspace has become more and more congested, Flight Levels have been strategically designed to allow more aircraft to traverse the skies using higher and higher altitudes due to increased efficiencies in aircraft design and technology.

Noise abatement protocols at many airports see aircraft executing rapid rise take-offs to minimise time they are close to the ground.  Hence they use best rate of climb up until a certain altitude, then the most efficient rate of climb.  The two are different as the best rate of climb, whilst gaining the most altitude at the fastest rate, also uses more fuel, and hence is more expensive.  A cruise climb is more efficient in that it uses less fuel, traverses more distance than a best rate climb, and is more comfortable for passengers.

Answer 7

No......seems like a lot of extra rhetoric for such a simple answer.