Why do planes fly around the Tibetan Plateau?

Why do planes fly around the Tibetan Plateau?When we look at a global flight route map, a strange phenomenon appears: the Tibetan Plateau in China seems to be deliberately "forgotten", and planes flying near this area have to detour. This region, known as the "Roof of the World", has an average altitude of over 4,000 meters, with Mount Everest, the highest peak, reaching 8,848

Why do planes fly around the Tibetan Plateau?

When we look at a global flight route map, a strange phenomenon appears: the Tibetan Plateau in China seems to be deliberately "forgotten", and planes flying near this area have to detour. This region, known as the "Roof of the World", has an average altitude of over 4,000 meters, with Mount Everest, the highest peak, reaching 8,848.86 meters. Such an awe-inspiring altitude poses a huge challenge for any aircraft. So, why do planes, which typically fly between 6,000 and 9,000 meters, and long-haul planes flying between 8,000 and 12,600 meters, still avoid the Tibetan Plateau?

The answer is not simple. While the flight altitude of airplanes seems sufficient to handle the vastness of the Tibetan Plateau, this plateau actually hides many unknown hazards, just like a seemingly calm lake that conceals turbulent currents.

Lessons from history: The Hump Route built with blood and tears

During World War II, to jointly resist Japanese aggression, China and the United States joined hands to open a lifeline through the Tibetan Plateau the Hump Route. This route had a maximum flying altitude of 7,000 meters, delivering precious strategic materials for the victory of the war. However, the cost of this route was heavy, built with blood and tears. Over a period of three years, 594 military transport planes were lost or scrapped, with a crash rate of 50%, and many of the wreckage have yet to be found.

The tragic lessons of the Hump Route reveal the dangers of the Tibetan Plateau. Although the flight altitude of airplanes seems sufficient to avoid mountains, various emergencies during actual flight could force planes to descend. In the plateau area, such a descent would mean disastrous consequences. Once a plane crashes in the mountains, rescue would become extremely difficult.

The "invisible killer" of the Tibetan Plateau: Atmospheric turbulence

The climate of the Tibetan Plateau is extremely variable, with strong winds forming wave-like flows between mountains. This flow state is very prone to atmospheric turbulence. Atmospheric turbulence is the biggest "invisible killer" in flight, causing severe turbulence and vibration of the aircraft, seriously threatening passenger safety. In the Tibetan Plateau area, where pollution is relatively small, atmospheric turbulence is often more hidden and difficult to detect by radar. Clear waters drown more people than muddy ones, because people tend to misjudge.

In addition to atmospheric turbulence, aircraft may also encounter clear air turbulence during flight, without any warning for pilots, naturally compromising the safety of the aircraft.

Challenges brought by thin air: Takeoff and landing difficulties

The thin air on the Tibetan Plateau presents huge challenges for aircraft takeoff and landing. In plateau areas, the thin air reduces the lift and drag of aircraft, meaning they need a longer distance to accelerate and decelerate for a successful takeoff and landing. For example, the Bonda Airport in Tibet has a runway of 5,500 meters, which is 700 meters longer than a typical airport runway. To save fuel, many civil aircraft are reluctant to transit here.

Data gap: "Neglect" of civil aircraft manufacturers

It is worth noting that several famous international civil aircraft manufacturers have not paid enough attention to the airflow environment of the Tibetan Plateau, have not established detailed databases, and naturally cannot collect relevant data, making it impossible to effectively address potential risks.

Altitude sickness: A common challenge for humans and aircraft

The harsh environment of the Tibetan Plateau not only poses threats to aircraft, but also to humans. Altitude sickness is a common reaction in many people after entering high-altitude areas, including headaches, difficulty breathing, and palpitations. Flight crew members will also be affected by altitude sickness, which will greatly affect their work efficiency and safety.

Economic factors: Sparse population, insufficient market demand

In addition to safety factors, economic factors are also key reasons for the scarcity of routes in the Tibetan Plateau. Tibet has a sparse population and insufficient aviation market demand to support the development of a thriving air transport industry. Currently, there are less than 10 civil airports in the Tibetan Plateau, which is equivalent to the size of seven or eight provinces in mainland China. Most Tibetans do not have the need to fly, and most tourists choose to drive or take a train to Tibet.

Conclusion: A trade-off between safety and economy

Although tourism to Tibet is booming, air routes to the Tibetan Plateau remain scarce. Safety issues and economic factors are intertwined, becoming key factors restricting the development of air transport. For Tibet, this may be a good thing because there is less pollution and the sky is blue. However, for those who want convenient travel, they still need to wait for safer and more economical air transportation solutions.

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