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Question : I have heard that some airplanes can "fly above the weather." How high do airplanes have to fly to be unaffected by weather conditions?   Answer : Most airliners fly above "average" weather. Most rain and snow clouds have tops aroune 30000 feet, and airliners and military jets routinely fly above that. However, thunderstorms can often grow to 50000 feet or higher, and that means that airplanes have to use their radar to fly around and avoid the weather. Certainly, to land, you have to fly through the weather if it is over the airfield, and that is where pilot really earn their pay! It takes lots of training to land in very bad weather, but it is what pilots practice for even on nice days. Mike Carter   Was this answer useful to you? Back

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