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Posted on 08/04/2014 12:08:18 AM PDT by Olog-hai
The U.S. government told airlines flying over Iraq to remain at higher altitudes, amid growing concerns about carriers operating around conflict zones.
U.S. airlines are now prohibited from flying over Iraq below 30,000 feet, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The agency, which had previously restricted airlines from flying below 20,000, issued the new requirement because of “the potentially hazardous situation created by the armed conflict in Iraq.”
The guidance, which is mandatory for all U.S. airlines but not others, comes amid increased disquiet about airlines flying near conflict zones after the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over war-torn eastern Ukraine. …
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Uuuh, uuuh, teach, I have a question. Why fly over Iraq in the first place?
This is an easy question to answer. Because that would cost time, and money. What’s a few hundred human lives as long as a company meets their bottom line?
Ahh. Sounds like altitude solves nothing. That Malaysian flight proved that.
Most people would read this article and conclude that 30,000 feet is 30,000 feet above the ground. But all air traffic control altitudes are above mean sea level, not the ground.
That’s interesting. I didn’t know that, thanks.
"Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish?
Nothing else."~Epictetus
God bless this site, this Free Republic.
Please click the pic
If you think about it, it makes sense. If you were to fly from LA to JFK and had to maintain 30,000 feet above the ground you would be constantly changing your altitude based upon the terrain you are flying over. And with all that altitude changing you would have a very hard time maintaining altitude separation from the aircraft above you and below you. If you would like to know more google “What are flight levels”.
Next they’ll be telling them to fly around Ukraine. Do you know how much fuel that costs? /sarc
Flight 17 was above 30000, did not prevent it from getting hit?
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