It's so hot in Phoenix, they can't fly planes

Zachary Hansen | The Arizona Republic

Show Caption Hide Caption How people are keeping cool in Phoenix's high heat With temperatures projected to reach record highs this week, The Republic went out to see how the people of Phoenix were reacting to the heat wave. Sam Caravana/azcentral.com

PHOENIX — The extreme heat forecast for Phoenix on Tuesday has caused the cancellation of 20 American Airlines flights out of Sky Harbor International Airport.

According to a statement from American Airlines, the American Eagle regional flights use the Bombardier CRJ aircraft, which has a maximum operating temperature of 118 degrees. Tuesday's forecast for Phoenix included a high of 120 degrees, and the flights that are affected were to take off between 3 and 6 p.m. MT.

Customers affected were told to contact American Airlines for rebooking options or to request a refund.

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Extreme heat affects a plane's ability to take off. Hot air is less dense than cold air, and the hotter the temperature, the more speed a plane needs to lift off. A runway might not be long enough to allow a plane to achieve the necessary extra speed.

It's so hot out west planes can't even take off Nearly 50 American airlines flights out of Phoenix's international airport were canceled Tuesday. Josh King has the story (@abridgetoland).

American Airlines alerted travelers on Saturday about the heat wave and recommended they change any flights scheduled to arrive or depart between 3 and 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. The flight changes would be free of charge.

This is reminiscent of Phoenix's record-setting high temperature of 122 degrees on June 26, 1990, which grounded some airlines for the day. Larger jets, such as Airbus and Boeing, aren't expected to be affected by this week's heat.

Follow Zachary Hansen on Twitter: @zach_ehansen

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