What is cruising altitude?
Your captain will have his sights set on an optimum cruising altitude based on flight reference data. This will be between 20,000 and 33,000 feet. On long-haul intercontinental flights, it could be as high as 42,000 feet. The basic idea is: The higher the better. As altitude increases, the air becomes thinner and offers less resistance, allowing the aircraft to fly faster while consuming less fuel. The cruising altitude at which the plane actually flies is stipulated by local air traffic controllers (ATC), who are responsible for coordinating the routes of all aircraft in their zone, and seeing that the regulations on horizontal and vertical spacing are observed. When mapping out an airway or runway approach, air traffic controllers will also take account of the pilot’s wishes, characteristics of the aircraft type, and the prevailing weather conditions.
