1️⃣ 🔥 Affects Aircraft Temperature & Performance

  • Strong sunlight at high altitudes heats the aircraft skin 🌡️
  • Hotter air = less dense atmosphere ⤵️
    • Reduced lift 🪂
    • Longer takeoff distance needed 🏁
    • Slightly lower engine efficiency ⚙️

Hot day = poorer aircraft performance 🛫

2️⃣ ⚠️ Increases Radiation Exposure for Crew & Passengers

  • Higher altitudes = less atmospheric protection 🧬
  • Risks increase during:
    • Polar flights 🌍❄️
    • Solar storms or flares 🌋

Pilots & cabin crew are considered radiation-exposed workers in some countries 👨‍✈️👩‍✈️

3️⃣ 📡 Navigation & Communication Disruptions

Solar activity like solar flares can cause:

  • GPS errors 🛰️❌
  • HF radio communication issues 📻📡
  • Satellite system interference 🌐⚡

Polar routes sometimes reroute to avoid radio blackouts 🚫

4️⃣ 🖥️ Avionics & Electronics Interference

  • Energetic solar particles can affect aircraft computers 🔋⚠️
  • Modern aircraft are shielded but extreme events are monitored 👀

5️⃣ 🌪️ Weather & Turbulence Impacts

  • Solar heating influences atmosphere dynamics 🌬️
  • May increase:
    • Temperature gradients 🌡️🔀
    • Jet stream shifts ➿
    • Clear-air turbulence 🌀