Why is it difficult for planes to take off when the weather is too hot?

Summer is a time when everyone is on the go, but hot weather might not be good news if you're planning to fly.

An extreme pilot recently revealed that hot weather can cause flights to be canceled in extreme cases.

All planes need "lift" to be able to take off. This is when an airplane uses air pressure to stay in the air, balancing gravity underneath, drag from behind, and thrust to propel the plane forward.

There is a specified maximum temperature - if the temperature exceeds that, the flight cannot depart.

However, the density of the air becomes much thinner in extreme heat conditions, making it difficult for planes to take off or land.

This means that the temperature at both your destination and your original location can determine if your flight continues or is cancelled.

Captain John Cox told USA Today: "There's a set maximum temperature - if it's over that temperature, the flight can't take off. At very high temperatures, the amount of payload an aircraft can carry. can be limited. Cargo and/or passenger offloading is sometimes necessary because hot air is not dense, reducing available lift."

Thankfully, planes can operate in high temperatures with temperatures ranging from around 43 degrees Celsius.

In 2017, however, more than 40 flights were canceled at Phoenix in Arizona after temperatures hit 48 degrees Celsius.

Aircraft also need to deal with the problem of extreme heat that has an impact on complex machinery. In high temperature conditions, the air conditioning system on the aircraft can be damaged, causing discomfort to passengers.

The most negative impact of this is leaving passengers severely dehydrated or suffering from other heat-related illnesses.

Pilots must also regularly monitor the aircraft's engine and temperature.

Regardless of extreme heat conditions, the take-off of any flight is when the engines are at their hottest and operating at maximum capacity to generate more thrust and take the plane into the sky. .

In addition to extreme temperature conditions and lower air density, the engines have to work harder and there is a risk of overheating.

Pilots need to monitor engine temperature by calculating both outside and inside temperatures, and adjust engine usage accordingly. However, this can affect the speed and function of the motor.