Does Earth rotation affect flight times?

The rotation of the Earth has no direct significant effect on flight times in either direction.

Why does it take longer to fly east than west?

The main reason for the difference in travel time is due to the jet stream. The jet stream is high altitude wind that blows from the west to the east across the globe. Airplanes fly into the jet stream at 30,000 feet and then travel with these winds. You can watch a Breakdown about the jet stream here.

Does a plane fly faster going East West?

Clear-air turbulence. Jet streams are, at their most basic, high-altitude air currents caused by atmospheric heating and the inertia of the earth’s rotation—and they’re the reason why flights from west to east are faster than the same route traversed in the opposite direction.

What happens to time when you travel west?

When you travel west, the Sun gets lower and lower in the sky. It is as though you are seeing the Sun as it would be at an earlier time in the day. For example, when you travel westwards, your clock will ‘lose’ one hour for each Time Zone you pass through.

Why are flight times shorter west to east?

The jet stream is the real reason your flight time varies depending on the direction of your destination. Jet streams are air currents that happen at very high altitudes, including those which planes frequently fly in. These jet streams tend to move in a wavy pattern from west to east, aided by the earth’s rotation.

How does the rotation of the Earth affect the flight time?

Similarly, the airplane is already moving along with the surface of the Earth before it takes off. The rotation of the Earth has no direct significant effect on flight times in either direction. That’s to a first order approximation.

How does the atmosphere rotate with the Earth?

The atmosphere around the Earth rotates with the Earth. Everything on the ground, in the water, or in the air also rotates – with the Earth – at the same speed as the Earth. What can impact the travel time for east-west vs. west-east are the prevalent winds caused by coriolis effect which in turn arises because of the Earth’s rotation.

What can impact the travel time for East-West vs west-east winds?

What can impact the travel time for east-west vs. west-east are the prevalent winds caused by coriolis effect which in turn arises because of the Earth’s rotation. At some latitudes the prevailing winds are westwards and at other latitudes they are eastward.

Does everything move at the same speed as the Earth?

Everything on the ground, in the water, or in the air also rotates – with the Earth – at the same speed as the Earth. What can impact the travel time for east-west vs. west-east are the prevalent winds caused by coriolis effect which in turn arises because of the Earth’s rotation.