2.3 The Operating Environment and Aircraft Performance

2.3 The Operating Environment and Aircraft Performance

Sept 16 2021

    The most important factors when discussing Aircraft Performance is the effect of air density, temperature, and the atmospheric pressure of the environment during the aircraft is in flight. The effects of temperature is directly correlated to pressure. As temperature decreases, pressure decreases while altitude increases. This drop in pressure decreases air density thus decreasing aircraft performance. The change in air density is important since it has an effect on multiple aircraft systems including the environmental system, lift, and combustion in the engine. Another issue when discussing about temperature is the humidity of the air. Humidity decreases the performance of aircrafts due to the fact that humid air is less oxygen dense compared to dry air. This also means that as humidity increases, air pressure and density of oxygen goes down, thus negatively affecting lift (climb performance), combustion for jet engines (fewer oxygen molecules to burn), and takeoff distance. 

   

        

Sources:

FAA. (n.d.). Aircraft Performance (Chapter 11 ed.). FAA. https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/media/13_phak_ch11.pdf