What is the maximum rainfall per hour in which a wide-bodied jet can take off, assuming the wind is low?

Question

What is the maximum rainfall per hour in which a wide-bodied jet can take off, assuming the wind is low?

Answer 1

Depends on the manufacturer's recommendation.

Answer 2

what dictates whether or not a jet can take off is not the amount of rain but the visibility or wind (non existent in this situation)

Jet engines are well, jet engines. You really need to understand how it works first. Unless you submerge it in water, it is highly unlikely to give up on you. The reason for this is that it compresses the air before it ignites it. The airflow is also very great. All the water would be evaporated or shot out of the end in a find mist. You might have difficulty starting the engines though if the rain is going directly down the engine.

Answer 3

Manufacturers actually do test to see how much water an engine can ingest before it won't stay "lit". I saw the test for the 747-400. It was pretty impressive and it never did extinguish the engine. I don't think we will ever see a plane encounter rainfall that would exceed the limit.

Answer 4

As long as there is airflow, the wing can generate lift.  Rain does not affect lift - its a factor of thrust, weight, air temperature, etc.

So, I'd say there's really not a maximum rainfall per hour, as long as there are no other weather related concerns such as excessive wind, hail, thunder, etc., that would negatively affect flight.