PALM SPRINGS, Ca.
The extreme heat gripping the desert has had an impact on air travel to and from Palm Springs International Airport.
American Airlines confirms they canceled 3 American Eagle flights Monday due to the heat.
The flights were all Phoenix to Palm Springs round-trips:
- Flight 3089: Phoenix-Palm Springs-Phoenix scheduled to leave Palm Springs International at 3:06pm
- Flight 3076 Phoenix-Palm Springs-Phoenix scheduled to leave Palm Springs International at 4:23pm
- Flight 3064: Phoenix-Palm Springs-Phoenix scheduled to leave Palm Springs International at 7:18pm.
American says they canceled the flights because planes perform differently in very high temperatures. On hot days, pilots may need to use more engine thrust and need a longer runway to take off. They may also not be able to carry as much weight in passengers and cargo to achieve the same lift the wings would generate in lower temperatures.
Aircraft manufacturers set the maximum temperatures their aircraft can operate in:
- Boeing: 126 degrees
- Airbus 127 degrees
- Smaller, Regional Aircraft (like those flying the American Eagle flights that were canceled): 118
