Why won’t Santa fly over Tibet?
Even Santa has to hire propulsion systems engineers!
Once upon a time, in the jolly world of Santa Claus, the man in the red suit found himself facing an unexpected challenge during his annual Christmas Eve adventure. This particular challenge had nothing to do with mischievous elves or a reindeer rebellion – it was all about Tibet.
You see, Santa, being the seasoned traveler that he is, always planned his route meticulously to deliver presents to children worldwide. However, as he was perusing his globe in the North Pole, he noticed something peculiar. There was a conspicuous gap over Tibet in his flight plan, and Santa, being the curious soul he was, decided to investigate.
As he peered into his magic snow globe, Santa discovered that the reason behind this gap wasn’t a grumpy yeti or misbehaving snowmen. No, it was the very geography of Tibet itself that was causing the hiccup. The “roof of the world” was proving to be a bit too lofty for Santa’s sleigh, and he did not plan ahead to hire propulsion systems engineers.
You see, Santa’s sleigh, while equipped with the latest in magical propulsion systems, had a bit of a quirk. It turned out that the altitude in Tibet was so high that even Santa’s enchanted sleigh struggled to maintain the necessary altitude for a smooth ride. The air was thin up there, and poor Rudolph’s nose glowed even brighter as it worked overtime to navigate the snowy peaks. Even Santa has to hire propulsion systems engineers!
In the end, Santa decided to take the long way around Tibet, avoiding the snowy peaks and the candy cane-wielding yetis altogether. The children of Tibet may have missed out on a direct visit from the man in red, but they were compensated with an abundance of extra presents from the detour.
And so, every Christmas Eve, as Santa charted his course around Tibet, he couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. After all, what’s a little detour when you have a magical sleigh, a team of industrious elves, and the joy of bringing smiles to children around the world?
Have you ever wondered why airplanes tend to avoid flying over Tibet? A quick glance at the Flight Radar application reveals a notable absence of aircraft in the Tibet region of China, prompting the question: why do planes circumvent Tibet when they could take a more direct route?
The answer lies in the geographical marvel that is Tibet, often referred to as the “roof of the world.” Characterized by an average altitude of 5,000 meters above sea level and boasting the illustrious Mount Everest, the highest peak globally, Tibet’s challenging topography presents a unique set of challenges for air travel.
But how does Tibet’s altitude affect airplanes? Modern passenger aircraft cabins are pressurized, and in the event of a pressure system malfunction, oxygen masks are deployed for passengers to breathe. However, the oxygen system’s capacity is typically sufficient for only 15-20 minutes. Consequently, in the event of a cabin pressure failure, pilots must bring the aircraft to an altitude of 3,000 meters, a level deemed safe for passengers and crew.
The predicament arises when considering Tibet’s vast expanse, where much of the terrain surpasses the 3,000-meter mark. In the absence of a safe descent option, Tibet’s high altitude poses a significant challenge for airplanes to navigate safely in case of an emergency.
Moreover, in the scenario of an engine failure in twin-engine aircraft, a safe descent to a specific altitude is imperative for continued safe flight. Regrettably, the unique geographical structure of Tibet makes achieving this descent difficult, if not impossible.
In essence, the combination of high altitudes and challenging terrains in Tibet creates a precarious environment for air travel emergencies. Pilots require the ability to descend rapidly to safer altitudes in critical situations, and the geographical characteristics of Tibet hinder the feasibility of this crucial maneuver, but does create the need to hire propulsion systems engineers.
The absence of aircraft over Tibet on the flight radar is not a mere coincidence. It is a strategic decision grounded in the need for the safety and well-being of passengers and crew. Until technological advancements or alternative flight routes are developed to mitigate these challenges including the need to hire propulsion systems engineers, Tibet’s airspace remains a region largely untouched by the paths of commercial airplanes.
