A helicopter blade works the same way as a wing on a fixed wing aircraft. The air flowing faster over the top of the airfoil generates lift. When a helicopter flies at a high altitude the air gets thinner. Because the air is thinner, more pitch on the blades is needed to keep the helicopter in the air. When too much pitch is on the blades the blades stall, air moves past the bottom of the blade and creates a vortex behind the top of the blade. All lift is lost and you lose altitude.
Because the air is thinner there
Helicopters struggle at high altitudes due to reduced air density, which decreases lift generation, engine performance, and rotor efficiency. Furthermore, the lower air pressure makes it harder to control the aircraft, affecting its stability and responsiveness.
An inverse relationship.
An altimeter is the instrument that is used for measuring altitudes in aircraft. It indicates the height above a reference point, typically sea level, and provides crucial information for pilots to maintain safe flying altitudes.
Helicopters are typically designed to fly in the troposphere, which is closer to the Earth's surface. The stratosphere begins at around 10 kilometers above sea level, and helicopters lack the necessary design and power to operate efficiently at that altitude.
Because the air is thinner there
Helicopters struggle at high altitudes due to reduced air density, which decreases lift generation, engine performance, and rotor efficiency. Furthermore, the lower air pressure makes it harder to control the aircraft, affecting its stability and responsiveness.
An inverse relationship.
An altimeter is the instrument that is used for measuring altitudes in aircraft. It indicates the height above a reference point, typically sea level, and provides crucial information for pilots to maintain safe flying altitudes.
Precautions when flying at high altitudes would be a pressure suit and oxygen /masks. But civilian flights do not ascend over 43,000 feet in the US.
The bar-headed goose holds the record for the highest altitude living bird, as it is capable of flying at altitudes of over 29,000 feet. Among mammals, the Himalayan marmot is often found at high altitudes above 15,000 feet in the Himalayas and Tibet.
Medium altitude refers to the range of altitudes typically between 2,000 and 7,000 meters above sea level. It is a zone in the atmosphere where weather patterns, atmospheric conditions, and cloud formations can vary significantly. Aircraft flying at medium altitudes usually experience smoother air compared to lower altitudes.
The vast majority of helicopters cannot fly above around 8,000 ft. The SA.315 Lama however set a record by flying at 41,000 ft. It regularly operates at over 20,000 ft. It is the worlds highest flying helicopter. In India it is called the Chetak.Helicopters themselves aren't the limiting factor in their ceiling. Above 12,000 feet, pilot and crew need to be on supplemental oxygen. That said, a helicopter's VTOL ability is of little value at altitude so their role means they stay within a few thousand feet AGL.
Planes often fly at least 10 km from the ground to avoid turbulence and weather disturbances that are more prevalent at lower altitudes. At higher altitudes, the air is thinner, which reduces drag and improves fuel efficiency. Additionally, flying at cruising altitudes allows aircraft to stay above most commercial air traffic, enhancing safety and efficiency in air travel.
jet stream
ladakh
Oxygen