What Is the Altitude of a Plane in Flight?
The altitude of aircraft in flight can vary by the type of aircraft. Generally, commercial aircraft fly at higher cruising altitudes than smaller general aviation aircraft. The flight level of an aircraft can also vary based on weather, air traffic control instruction and the purpose of the flight. Each type of aircraft has its optimal cruise altitude. Commercial Jetliners and Business Jets Aircraft with jet engines (generally medium- to long-range cargo planes, passenger planes and private jets) are capable of much higher altitudes than those with propellers. In most cases, these aircraft are assigned cruising altitudes ranging from 25,000 to 37,000 feet depending on the distance of the flight and air traffic control guidance. As a rule, the longer the flight, the higher the altitude. The average cruising altitudes of aircraft are much less than their maximum sustainable altitudes, also known as “absolute ceilings,” as well as their “service ceilings,” the altitude at which the aircra
