If you’ve ever planned a vacation to a destination across the Pacific, you’ll notice something odd: there are very few flight routes that went over the Pacific Ocean. It seemed, in some cases flying over the Pacific ocean would be the most logical choice. Many planes seemed to go out of their way to avoid the Pacific Ocean all together, and I set out to find the reason why.
Why do planes not fly over the Pacific? There are very few plane routes that go over the Pacific Ocean. Most do not in order to save time, fuel, decrease distance, and for safety reasons. Because the earth is, in fact, curved, these flight routes are not accurately depicted on the flat surface of a map.
This answer may spark more questions in you, right? Well, we’ve done the research to help you gain a better understanding of exactly what this means. At first glance, even taking into consideration the curve of the earth, some of these flights may seem like they go far out of their way just to avoid the ocean.
Table of Contents
Why the Distance Looks Different on a Map vs. a Globe
The most common tool used by the average person when determining the distance between two locations is a two-dimensional map. The main reason why is availability. Maps are just more accessible to us. From paper maps to the apps on our phone.
The biggest flaw in this measurement is accuracy. The earth is not flat. Curved routes are often faster than what is depicted in the straight lines of a map.
The spherical shape of Earth just doesn’t translate well when it is put on a flat map. When measuring the distance between two locations on a map, we aren’t considering the curvature of the earth. Because of this variable, the actual distance can vary hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles inaccuracy.
Using a Globe to Prove This Theory
It’s easy to prove this fact all on your own. All you need is a globe, a map, and some string.
- Choose two locations you want to measure the distance from.
- Using a string, measure the difference between these two locations on a map.
- Plot out those same two locations on the globe.
- Using the string, connect the two locations on the globe.
- Now, pulling your string tightly, Notice the curve in the string as it follows the curved surface of the globe.
- If you have followed these steps correctly, you will see that the curved distance is shorter.
As it turns out, this isn’t even a completely accurate measurement either. The globe doesn’t provide an accurate representation of the earth either. A globe is a perfect circle in shape, where the earth isn’t.
How the Rotation of the Earth Plays a Role
Let’s pretend you are sitting in an office chair, spinning yourself in circles really fast. After you stop and get up, your balance is completely off. Your vision will seem to spin and walking in a straight line is nearly impossible.
Using that thought process, picture the earth. The earth rotates on its axis at a speed of around 1,000 mph. The force of this rotation causes the center of the Earth to Bulge out slightly at the Equator, giving it extra equatorial width.
Factors Considered When Plotting a Plane’s Route
There’s a bunch of reasons airlines choose the routes for flights. I’ve broken them down here into a few categories.
Cost and Time Savings
Because an airline is in place to make a profit, it’s important for them to find the cheapest and quickest way to each destination. This also plays a huge part in making the price for consumers affordable. There are a couple of things considered when determining the best possible route.
- Fuel Cost – Clearly, the shortest route will use less fuel.
- Saving Time – This isn’t just to the benefit of the airline. Travelers prefer to spend as little time as possible on the plane, often considering the shortest routes when purchasing tickets
Safety
This is a huge consideration to the airline when making route choices. Since the Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean on earth, it’s not always the best choice. Most routes are chosen to maximize the number of airports on the route.
Mechanical Issues
Occasionally, while flying, the plane will suffer mechanical malfunctions that don’t need to be life-threatening to the people on board. If the plane is grounded as soon as possible after the malfunction occurs, the risks are greatly minimized. Landing on an airport runway is much easier and safer.
Weather Patterns
Although most flights attempt to minimize the amount of time over water, storms are a consideration. In many cases, a plane can just fly over the storm, avoiding turbulence. However, some originate at an altitude of over 60,000 feet, and commercial planes only fly at an altitude of 30,000 feet or less, making that option impossible.
Flying through a storm is usually not something a pilot will choose to do. High winds are likely to cause turbulence, resulting in the anxiety and discomfort of passengers. Anyone who’s ever experienced turbulence can tell you how scary it can be.
In these cases, to fly over the ocean is sometimes the best option. Most turbulence is caused by hot air colliding with cooler air. Hot air is retained by land, while water tends to equally distribute heats, making these occurrences less likely.
Jet Streams
Most commercial airlines fly at the top of the troposphere, which is the lowest level of the atmosphere and where most weather occurs. The border between the troposphere and the stratosphere is called the tropopause and fluctuates in altitude between 4 to 12 miles.
This variance in altitude causes rapid shifts in air temperature, creating a wind tunnel capable of reaching a speed of up to 200 mph. Regular wind speeds are 80-140 mph.
There are four main jet streams occurring around the earth, flowing West to East due to the earth’s rotation. The two affecting Air travel are the Polar jet stream and the subtropical jet stream.
While flying with the jet stream can save time and fuel, flying into the jet stream slows the plane down significantly and also causes a phenomenon called clear air turbulence. It’s nearly impossible to predict its occurrence and is far more intense than the normal kind.
Although accidents caused by this is rare, there have been instances reported of near crashed as a result of this turbulence.
A great visual representation of all of this can be found in this video.
Exceptions to the Rule
Of course, there are some dedicated routes that fly over the Pacific. Areas like Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Hawai’i, Japan, and New Zealand are located in the Pacific Ocean, making it impossible to avoid.
Putting it All Together
Most of these reasons would never have occurred to me as they do not apply to my day to day life. When traveling by car, the earth’s curvature and storms don’t really have a significant effect on travel.
The fact that all of these variables are considered in plotting an airline route makes me feel a lot safe when it comes to flying. It also gives me a far greater appreciation of pilots and the decisions they sometimes have to make. Hopefully, this satisfies your curiosity, as well as it did mine. Happy Travels!
Recommended Course!
