Can large passenger planes fly in thev stratosphere?
There are two basic atmospheric layers affecting commercial aviation, the troposphere and the stratosphere. There is a boundary, or transition layer called the tropopause. The tropopause marks the boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere. Over the tropics the tropopause is usually found at 50,000 to 60,000 feet, Over the poles the tropopause is usually found at 25,000 to 30,000 feet. The tropopause altitude varies daily based on the jetstream and frontal activity. Pilots use the “trop” to avoid clear air turbulence. All commercial aircraft can operate above 30,000 feet, and some even exceed 40,000 feet. Therefore, depending on the location of the aircraft and weather conditions, aircraft can routinely operate in the stratosphere.
