A Hot Topic: The Risk of Heat Waves and Aircraft Performance

     Over the years, there has been a steady trend of increasing temperatures in the summers, displaying harsher conditions and hotter days. As the colder months begin to pass and the warm weather approaches, the issue of high temperatures reducing aircraft performance presents itself. With high temperature, the density altitude increases, meaning decreased performance. Density altitude takes into account pressure (with increasing pressure lowering density altitude), and temperature (increasing temperature increasing density altitude) (Cutler, 2025). 

    Thus, low pressure and high temperature conditions create a high density altitude. The way an aircraft's wings work is the air is the air above the wing is moving faster than the air below it, and the pressure below the wing is greater than above it, giving it the ability to lift off the ground (scienceworld, n.d.) 

    With lower air pressure, this therefore reduces the lift, as there is less pressure being generated underneath the wing, reducing the ability to climb. Additionally, high temperatures lead molecules to become less dense, as when the air is heated, molecules have more energy and distance from each other, also accounting for the loss in lift. This pushes the aircraft to their limits, and if not accounted for, can result in a mishap. Since the aircraft's lift is reduced, aircraft flying close to their limit may go down if the density altitude is not accounted for.

 (Cutler, 2025).

    High heat also presents the risk of overheating for the crew, leading to greater fatigue and risk of decreased decision making abilities, since fatigue can lead to impaired thinking.

    The circulation in a low density altitude event could lead to a presenting pressure gradient. This occurs when a cool, dense air flows towards hot, less dense air to attempt to achieve equilibrium, creating a cycle of cool to hot, and hot to cool (FAA ,1975, p.24).   In summer conditions, however, this reduces the difference in density between the two air systems, creating a weak circulation system and inefficient method of air circulation.

 (FAA, 1975, p.24)
 
    In the case of a cold front advancing and pushing itself underneath warm air, this creates conditions for cloud formation and potential storms. Similarly, if a warm front advances and pushes itself over warm air, clouds and steady rain will form (Pilot Institute, 2025). With an advancing front, this creates an environment where the pressure gradient can take force to increase air circulation, taking warm air from above and cooling it as it descends and pressure increases, though the weather conditions resulting from frontal systems can present their own issues when attempting to fly.


References

Cutler, Colin. 2025. Density Altitude: What It Is, And How It Affects Your Performance.

 Boldmethod.com; Boldmethod Flight Training. https://www.boldmethod.com/learn-to

 fly/performance/density-altitude-performance/

‌FAA. (1975). Aviation Weather For Pilots and Flight Operations Personnel, Chapter 4.                                      https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC%2000-6A%20Chap%204-6.pdf

Pilot Institute. (2024, January 19). Weather Fronts Explained (Cold, Warm, Stationary, Occluded)  - Pilot   Institute. Pilot Institute. https://pilotinstitute.com/weather-fronts-explained/

Scienceworld. (n.d.). Plane Wing Simulator. Science World.             https://www.scienceworld.ca/resource/plane-wing-simulator/

    

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