US Airways - July 2013 - 11

embark

Did You Know?

News, Notes, and
Inflight Insights

Why do we put the
window shades down?

Once a plane
arrives at a gate,
its systems are often
shut down to save on fuel,
conserve energy, and keep
the engines cool. This
means that in the summer
months, it can get pretty
warm in the cabin when the
plane is parked at the gate.
Lowering your window shade helps keep
the cabin several
degrees cooler. And
when the plane’s cooling system is restarted
before departure, it
doesn’t have to work
as hard or consume as
much fuel to bring the
cabin temperature to
comfortable levels.

How long is the average runway?
Runway length is determined by
the intended use for the runway.
Generally, larger and heavier
aircraft require more length, so
runways at large international
airports are longer than those
at regional airports, which serve
smaller, lighter aircraft.
US Airways serves airports
in the United States equipped
with runways ranging from a
little longer than one mile to
more than three miles long.
For example, at New York’s
LaGuardia Airport, the longest
runway is about 1.5 miles (7,003
feet); at Dallas-Fort Worth the
runway is 13,401 feet; and at
Denver International the longest
is 16,000 feet. In Denver’s case,

the performance of aircraft at
a high altitude in the thinner
air had to be considered when
designing the runway.
The lengths of runways in
the US Airways system are
well in excess of the amount
required for our jets to take
off and land fully loaded, with
plenty of room left over to
ensure safe operation. Regardless of the location, both the
flight dispatcher and the pilots
will verify before take-off or
landing that the runway is of
sufficient length in the given
conditions. It’s a conservative
approach that helps to ensure
the safety of every flight.
—Capt. Bob Skinner

How far can a pilot see on a clear day?

★

Quite far, actually! It’s a simple concept to
grasp: The higher your eye level, the farther
you can see. However, the ability to see the distant
horizon is based on many variables such as temperature, humidity, and even your position relative

to the surface of the Earth, due to its curvature.
To estimate how far you can see from a jet at
normal cruise altitude on a clear day, multiply
the first two digits of the plane’s altitude by six.
Looking at it in real terms, many airliners cruise
between 35,000 and 40,000 feet. At those altitudes
you can see about 210 to 240 miles away.
—Capt. Bob Skinner

illustrations by nigel holmes

usairwaysmag.com

july 2013

http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - July 2013

US Airways - July 2013
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: Family-Friendly Vacations
Wine & Dine: The Other Portland
Great Tastes: Benjamin Steakhouse
Wine & Dine: A Crafty Measure
Diversions: Fresh as You Please
Great Tastes: Savor
Great Escapes: Now Resorts & Spas
Adventure: Climbing Mt. Rainier
Travel Feature: Grand Cayman, the Epicure's Island
US Airways: Top Dogs
Special Section: Northwest Arkansas
Golf: Primland, a Course Apart
Special Section: North Carolina High Country
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - July 2013