At 35°C, Leh's cold desert heat could cause aircraft engine failures
PTC News Desk: Warming up to nearly 35 degrees Celsius during the day, Leh-Ladakh, the icy desert region of India, has grown so hot that many Indian airlines have declared a mass cancellation of flights.
In the last three days, some 12 planes have been canceled, and numerous users of the social media site X have mentioned that travelers are stuck at the Leh airport. Reservations for flights on IndiGo's low-cost airline's website can be canceled through July 31.
IndiGo announced the reasons for flight cancellations on Monday and assured users that they would receive a reimbursement in a post on X. Due to elevated ground temperatures and runway limitations in Leh, all flights are scheduled to be canceled today. Visit this link to make a new reservation or request a refund: https://bit.ly/3MxSLeE We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused, and we value your patience," the message said.
In Leh-Ladakh, flight cancellations owing to severe weather have become commonplace; nevertheless, this is the first occasion that widespread flight cancellations have been caused by excessive daytime temperatures.
Do plane engines fail in weather extremes?
According to The Times of India, low air density seen at high altitude locations like Leh might impair aircraft engines' performance. The temperature of the air drops with height. When air pressure drops, air molecules expand and the total air density lowers as a result.
Because of this reduced oxygen supply, mountaineers must breathe at high altitudes using oxygen cylinders. The altitude of Leh airport, which is higher than 14,000 feet, makes flying considerably more difficult than it is elsewhere in the nation. Because of the year-round reduced air pressure in Leh, an unusual rise in temperature could cause the air density to drop even more.
According to reports, aircraft engines function differently in thin air whether they are climbing or landing because they have to run faster to keep afloat. The TOI states that aircraft engines are unable to provide enough thrust to carry a commercially viable load under such difficult circumstances and extreme temperatures.
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- With inputs from agencies
