Basic HTML Version
Unmatched
Network
New international service launches in May
ASKTHE PILOT
With Captain Mike Bowers
Q: When flying to a southern city like
Houston, I’ve noticed that sometimes
the plane takes off to the north
instead of the south. Why not choose
the more efficient path?
A:
The primary factor in selecting a
runway for takeoff or landing is wind
direction. We normally attempt to take
off into the wind, since wind flowing
over the wing is what provides the
lift required for a plane to become
airborne. A headwind allows us to
take off or land using less runway. For
example, a typical takeoff speed is
about 150mph, but if there’s a 20mph
headwind, the plane only needs to
accelerate to 130mph to create that
same 150 mph over the wing. It takes
less time and runway distance to
reach 130mph than it would to reach
150mph. Conversely, if a plane is
taking off with a 20mph tailwind, it
needs a ground speed of 170mph to
achieve 150mph over the wing. So
we select the runway in order to
minimize our ground speed, which
enhances safety, even if it takes us a
few miles out of our way.
Do you have a question for Captain Bowers?
Write to him at askthepilot@united.com.
WITHSUMMERAPPROACHING
and vacationplanning underway formany,
travel to theUnitedKingdomwill bemore convenient than ever for United
customers. Thismonth, United begins daily nonstop service toManchester,
England, from Washington Dulles International Airport, and beginning
in June we will start flying to Dublin, Ireland, fromWashington Dulles.
For those wanting a more tropical getaway, year-round daily service
fromWashingtonDulles toHonoluluwill begin in June. This newservice to
Hawaii means that Unitedwill have the only nonstop service
between these two cities.
United, the largest carrier between the U.S. main-
land and Hawaii, will connect the Aloha State with
eight mainland cities, as well as Tokyo, Guam and
Majuro, offering nonstop service in 23 city pairs.
From our Washington Dulles hub, United also
offersmore domestic and international service from
the nation’s capital than any other airline.
Since our merger, the newUnited’s unmatched global
route network andU.S. hub structure have allowedus to offer
our customersmore flights tomore places theywant to go. By adding these
new international routes and long-haul domestic service to Hawaii, we
continue to put the right aircra in the right markets to serve our custom-
ers’ needs. Themerger has also enabledus to add anumber of newdomestic
routes by using a mix of mainline and regional aircra more efficiently.
16
MAY 2012
•
HEMISPHERESMAGAZINE.COM
CONNECTIONS