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Crossing the Atlantic

  • 09-11-2012 12:06pm
    #1
    Poulgorm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 813 ✭✭✭


    Why does it take longer to fly from East to West than in the opposite direction ?

    Shannon to New York take about 7 hours: New York to Shannon takes about 6 hours.

    Probably a very simple answer...but I don't know what it is.


Comments

  • #2
    Maximus Alexander
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,080 ✭✭✭✭Maximus Alexander


    Prevailing winds?


  • #3
    Ben D Bus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,151 ✭✭✭Ben D Bus


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_stream

    Jet_Stream.jpg


  • #4
    Poulgorm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 813 ✭✭✭Poulgorm


    I wonder if either of the suggested answers (prevailing winds & jet stream) is correct. Jets fly at an altitude of 33,000ft +, so the prevailing winds would not be very dense at that altitude. Also the jet streams are so narrow, planes could easily avoid them (unless they wanted to take advantage of them).

    I wonder is it something to do with the rotation of the earth (west to east).

    I am sure the pilots on here know the answer


  • #5
    Ben D Bus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,151 ✭✭✭Ben D Bus


    Poulgorm wrote: »
    I wonder if either of the suggested answers (prevailing winds & jet stream) is correct. Jets fly at an altitude of 33,000ft +, so the prevailing winds would not be very dense at that altitude. Also the jet streams are so narrow, planes could easily avoid them (unless they wanted to take advantage of them).

    I wonder is it something to do with the rotation of the earth (west to east).

    I am sure the pilots on here know the answer

    From the Wiki article I quoted:
    The location of the jet stream is extremely important for aviation. Commercial use of the jet stream began on 18 November 1952, when Pan Am flew from Tokyo to Honolulu at an altitude of 7,600 metres (24,900 ft). It cut the trip time by over one-third, from 18 to 11.5 hours.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_stream#Aviation

    The rotation of the earth is one of the elements that causes the jet stream (and most weather).


  • #6
    Maximus Alexander
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,080 ✭✭✭✭Maximus Alexander


    The rotation of the Earth has a direct effect on flight paths due to the Coriolis Effect, this applies equally in both directions though.

    It doesn't affect the flight time in the way that you are asking, except indirectly insofar as it is responsible for the jet stream and other weather effects.


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  • #7
    krd
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,455 ✭✭✭krd


    I've heard rocket launches are always tilted into the east (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Because the spin of the earth gives the rocket an extra kick.

    And I think the rule with orbiting space ships, is you descend directly, you need to go west to come in, and east to go out (I could have that back to front).


  • #8
    locum-motion
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,143 ✭✭✭locum-motion


    krd wrote: »
    I've heard rocket launches are always tilted into the east (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Because the spin of the earth gives the rocket an extra kick.

    And I think the rule with orbiting space ships, is you descend directly, you need to go west to come in, and east to go out (I could have that back to front).

    You'd better figure it out before you try to launch your 'building crumbler"!:D


  • #9
    Poulgorm
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 813 ✭✭✭Poulgorm


    If we had a pilot on here, I feel he would know the answer.


  • #10
    im invisible
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,372 ✭✭✭im invisible


    shur back in the tine of concorde, you could land before you had taken off....


  • #11
    Ben D Bus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,151 ✭✭✭Ben D Bus


    Poulgorm wrote: »
    If we had a pilot on here, I feel he would know the answer.

    Well, if you're not going to believe the answers on the science forum then ask on the aviation forum. Who knows, maybe there will be a pilot there!

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=905


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  • #12
    tricky D
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,700 ✭✭✭tricky D


    Maximus Alexander wrote: »
    The rotation of the Earth has a direct effect on flight paths due to the Coriolis Effect, this applies equally in both directions though.

    The Coriolis Effect has only a very small effect. See your own Wiki link at Ballistic missiles and satellites section. The flight path is a Great Circle almost wholly due to the Earth's curvature.

    Poulgorm wrote: »
    If we had a pilot on here, I feel he would know the answer.

    Answer has already been given: jet stream and prevailing winds. No need to be a pilot to know that.


  • #13
    Maximus Alexander
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,080 ✭✭✭✭Maximus Alexander


    tricky D wrote: »
    The Coriolis Effect has only a very small effect. See your own Wiki link at Ballistic missiles and satellites section. The flight path is a Great Circle almost wholly due to the Earth's curvature.




    Answer has already been given: jet stream and prevailing winds. No need to be a pilot to know that.

    True but I was replying to the part where he said:
    I wonder is it something to do with the rotation of the earth (west to east).


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