Extreme heat can keep planes grounded

Flying in extreme heat      Another difficulty facing civil aviation is the increasing temperatures on our planet, which are making it more difficult for planes to take off at some airports. Furthermore, if heatwaves occur more frequently, more aircraft may be affected by the issue, necessitating the grounding of passengers by the airlines.      The fundamental difficulty that every airplane has during takeoff is that gravity tries to keep them on the ground because planes are so heavy, according to Paul Williams, an atmospheric science professor at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. They need to create lift, which is the atmosphere pushing the plane upward, in order to overcome gravity. Although there are several variables that affect lift, one of the most crucial ones is air temperature. Warm air expands, which lowers the amount of molecules that can propel a plane forward.      Airports with short runways, which give the plan...