What Is the Highest Altitude That a Plane Can Fly? Do Planes Fly Above Clouds?

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Written by Consensus AI
2 min read

Check out this answer from Consensus:

Aircraft have historically achieved altitudes over 43,000 ft., and commercial jets typically fly around 30,000 ft., which is generally above most cloud formations. However, some high-altitude clouds can reach levels that intersect with typical flight paths. Overall, planes do fly above clouds, but high-altitude clouds can still be encountered occasionally.

The altitude at which planes can fly and their interaction with clouds are important considerations for aviation safety and efficiency. This synthesis examines the highest altitudes achieved by aircraft and whether planes typically fly above clouds, based on data from multiple research papers.

Key Insights

  • Maximum Altitude Achieved by Aircraft:
    • Historical records indicate that aircraft have reached altitudes exceeding 43,000 ft. Lt. Soucek achieved a height of 43,166 ft. in 1930, and previous records were also above 41,000 ft.
  • Typical Flying Altitudes and Cloud Interaction:
    • Jet aircraft commonly fly at altitudes around 30,000 ft., which is often above the majority of cloud formations.
    • Observations show that aircraft flying near stratocumulus clouds encounter turbulence up to 300 ft above the cloud tops, but no turbulence is found above this level, indicating that planes can and do fly above clouds.
  • High-Altitude Clouds:
    • Some clouds, particularly those detected by radar, can reach altitudes above 10 km (approximately 32,800 ft), occasionally penetrating the tropopause and lower stratosphere. This suggests that while most commercial flights are above typical cloud levels, some high-altitude clouds can still be encountered.

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