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Peter David writes:

> EXPECTED EXTERNAL ALTITUDES:
> 
> 	While this it is generally true that 25-30,000 is a typical
> cruising altitude of older aircraft, Boeing 747, in particular
> routinely fly above 40,000.  I have been on at least one flight where
> the co-pilot announced an altitude in excess of 50,000 feet, nominally
> to avoid storms.

Hmmm... I remain skeptical of this -- I'm not saying you're lying or anything,
it just doesn't square with the information I've been exposed to as a private
pilot.

> EXPECTED INTERNAL ALTITUDE: (PRESSURE/O2)
> 
> 	One further point about the high altitude profile is that the
> commercial airlines are changing the cabin pressure from the 'old'
> standard of 5,000 feet up to 10,000 feet to save energy (fuel) in
> heating the air into the cabin and at the same time,

And this makes me even more suspicious of your information. Unless the FAA
has changed the FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations), this is totally
incorrect. Last time I checked, the FARs required a cabin pressurization of
8000 feet equivalent altitude or less in commercial aircraft. One of the
primary reasons for this is the effect that rarified pressures have on
people with COPD and other pulmonary ailments.

Dave Waller				YMCA Instructor
dwaller@cu*.hp*.co*			Hewlett-Packard Co.
(408) 447-4413

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