Issues in Flight Analysis

Issues in Flight Analysis refers to the issues in using flight information as a scientific tool for determining the layout or dimensions of the Earth. It is often asked whether it is possible to use flights to determine geographical information about the Flat Earth models under investigation (Ie. The Bi-Polar Model or other possible models).

There are many factors to consider other than geography, such as winds. The shortest geographical route is often not taken, and changes by the day. Non-stop flights are not necessarily always non-stop for various reasons. It is found that planes can and do travel at supersonic speeds (groundspeed) on a regular basis. Investigators have also found that listed flight times are purposely skewed by large amounts. The wind anomalies and conditions may further exist differently over different parts of the Earth. Based on these complications, it is difficult to utilize the flights in any certain way in investigation of the Flat Earth geographic models in discussion.

Why Flights Take Longer
http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/airlines-airports/why-flights-take-longer (Archive)

Are You Being Told the Truth about Flight Times?
A study which says airlines are skewing flight times:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travel-truths/Are-airlines-exaggerating-flight-times-so-theyre-never-late/ (Archive)

Are you being told the truth about flight times?

Jetstreams Enable Routine Supersonic Flight (Groundspeed)
Riding a Wild Wind, Transatlantic Jets Fly Faster Than Ever (Archive)

A 200-mph jet stream has sent several passenger jets to nearly 800 mph and helped break a (subsonic) speed record.

Wind Estimates
A quote from a University of Hawaii professor David Duffy suggests that travel times in various wind conditions can be quite wild. He discusses dispersion of undirected airborne radiation traveling from Japan to Hawaii:

Hawaii and Dealing with a Worst-Case Scenario from Fallout from Japanese Reactors (Archive)

UH professor lays out questions we need to be asking to determine whether we're ready for worst-case scenario.

Center of a Tornado
If Professor David Duffy is correct that Jet Streams reach 400 mph, for context this is the speed of winds at the center of a tornado:

https://www.eureka.mo.us/306/Tornado-Awareness (Archive)

Flight Paths Not Regular
Many attempts at flight analysis assume that the flights fly on great circle, or direct routes, in a simplistic manner. In reality the flight paths change daily:

https://issuu.com/canso/docs/airspace_quarterone_2008

As we read above, a plane may be taking longer geographical routes on different days, in adherence with the particular wind conditions on the particular day.

Shortest Possible Time
It is also generally assumed in such analysis and arguments that all pilots across the world are trying to reach destinations in the shortest possible time, and that this data should be used as a "measuring stick". But this [https://blog.privatefly.com/how-does-the-jet-stream-affect-my-flight-time#:~:text=By%20flying%20in%20a%20jet,in%20the%20shortest%20possible%20time. may not always be the case.] (Archive)

Anomalous Winds over the Southern Oceans
Winds over the Southern Oceans are reputed to be of an anomalous nature, as compared to winds in the North.

Australian Antarctic Division
http://www.antarctica.gov.au/magazine/2001-2005/issue-4-spring-2002/feature2/what-is-the-southern-ocean (Archive)

BBC Earth
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20151009-where-is-the-windiest-place-on-earth (Archive)

Journal of Geophysical Research
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2003JD004179 (Archive)

Faster Westerlies in the South
Cracking IAS Prelims Revision Files – Geography (Vol. 4/9)

Prevailing Winds
Maps of the Trade-winds show that winds can travel in both Easterly and Westerly directions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres:



Ocean Currents
The winds also cause the direction of the ocean gyes, which in turn show both Easterly and Westerly directions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.



Note: The seen clockwise and counter-clockwise prevailing wind and ocean currents runs contradictory to the Coriolis Effect. See Coriolis Effect (Weather)

Non-Stop Flights
Reported issues with Non-Stop flights may suggest that the existing flights depend on a balance of physical phenomena.

Annoyed by a fuel stop on your direct flight?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/airline-fuel-stops-divert-1.4495744 (Archive)

''Annoyed by a fuel stop on your direct flight? Why airlines can't always plan ahead''

Flights Stop for Fuel
Flights Stop for Fuel

By SUSAN CAREY And ANDY PASZTOR

January 11, 2012

So-called nonstop flights now stop for fuel
Air travel: So-called nonstop flights now stop for fuel

Reliance on Jet Streams
If the winds are not in the plane's favor, they may stop to refuel:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/07/03/rising-temperatures-could-bump-you-from-your-flight-thanks-climate-change/

Non-direct Route
Planes do not necessarily fly on the direct route, the so-called 'great circle' route. Flight path mapping requires diversion airports (ie. countries or islands with airports) near the flight path.

https://www.radarbox.com/blog/how-pilots-choose-flight-paths (Archive)

HOW PILOTS CHOOSE FLIGHT PATHS?

Weather
In the above link also mentions weather as a cause for flights to take longer geographical routes:

Reliability
Travel writer Maggie Teneva states:

Terminology
Airliners call a cancelled flight "rescheduled":

Removed

 * Oh Great: United Airlines Redefines “Cancelled” - Suggests that cancelled flights are alternatively called "removed".