Question? Why is it deemed unsafe

[colin traveller]

For Helo's , Aircraft to fly with temps on or above 48f ? That's a first i've ever read such a reason given

As that was was mentioned in an article about a motorcyclists that died and another taken to hospital due heat exhaustion in Death Valley ..

 

[muck]

Surely you meant 48°C, because 48°F is a fairly low temperature? Helicopters need dense air to generate maximum lift. The higher the ambient temperature, the lower the density of the air (and the payload of the helicopter). Eventually comes a point where the helicopter might struggle to take off, particularly if the elevation is already high.

 

[FLYNAVY]

Planes get 1% less lift with every 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius) of temperature rise & goes up exponentially at higher altitudes. Prop revs & jet thrust can only do so much to counteract lift loss without exceeding an aircraft's capabilities. Ground crews suffer as well on hot tarmacs.