How cold is too cold?

[DisMN]

With our temps nearing -35 here I'm wondering how cold is TOO cold for a plane to take off/fly?

 

[MermaidsMom]

I have been in many planes that have been "de-iced" because of snow, ice and cold temps. I can't say how cold exactly, but surely somewhere in the
20's. I always feel better when they de-ice before we take off, it's sort of like going through an antifreeze car wash for the plane. Just remember how nice it will be when you land somewhere warm!!

 

[cbrfan]

We've flown in temps way below 20º. Didn't know there was a "too cold to fly". They fly into the Arctic, don't they?

 

[hercamore]

Hi DisMN

Yeah, it's about -33 here this a.m. in Rochester.

I don't know the anwer to your question. I'm guessing colder than 35 below, tho. All the military jets flying out of bases in North Dakota and Alaska don't seem to have a problem. I'll ask my son-in-law, he's an AF navigator.


herc..

 

[Melissa_E]

Don't forget, the air temperature at 33,000 feet and above is even colder! I ws once on a flight that had a screen that tracked our progress. We were able to see our airspeed, location, elevation, and outside temperature. It was interesting seeing -40 and higher outside.

 

[PlutoPony]

With our temps nearing -35 here I'm wondering how cold is TOO cold for a plane to take off/fly?

Is that ambient temp or with wind chill?

 

[ironz]

I flew into/out of Fairbanks, AK, last winter in temps of about 15 below.

 

[CarolMN]

Is that ambient temp or with wind chill?

It's a wind chill number. The actual temperature was approx -15 F.

I think the winds are more of a problem than the temperature.

 

[Befferk]

I was wondering the same thing as OP. We're in WI and we had -20 this morning (real temp) and are expecting more like -35 to -40 real temps tonight. My poor DH is going outside to fix the wood stove every couple hours I'm glad we're not paying for fuel! Stay warm everyone!

 

[DisMN]

It's a wind chill number. The actual temperature was approx -15 F.

I think the winds are more of a problem than the temperature.

Uh......no.....sorry, it's the actual temp. It has warmed up quite a bit though and it's up to -24 as we speak. LOL
We're anticipating being in the -40's later this week though. You must be in one of the only warm pockets in Minnesota Carol.

Don't forget, the air temperature at 33,000 feet and above is even colder! I ws once on a flight that had a screen that tracked our progress. We were able to see our airspeed, location, elevation, and outside temperature. It was interesting seeing -40 and higher outside.

GOOD GOOD POINT.......I forget how cold it is way up there! LOL How cool (pardon the pun) that you were able to track your progress that way!!! What airline was that? I'd LOVE to be able to do that!

 

[angwill]

When I worked at an airport in the past the coldest it got when I worked there was -50 with the windchill and they just de iced the planes and off they went.

HTH