Planes can fly over the Pacific Ocean, but they generally avoid doing so directly due to safety concerns, particularly the lack of suitable emergency landing locations.
The Challenges of Pacific Ocean Flights
While many routes involve flying over parts of the Pacific, direct, long-distance flights over the vast expanse are limited by various factors:
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Lack of Emergency Landing Sites: The primary reason for avoiding long, direct Pacific crossings is the absence of suitable land for emergency landings. As the reference states, "it is not a suitable location for a forced landing in the event of an emergency." This poses a significant risk, as a plane in distress has few options for a safe landing.
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Survival Rates: In the event of a crash in the Pacific, the chances of survival are dramatically lower. The reference explains, "It's quite unlikely that anybody aboard a jet that crashed in the Pacific would survive the landing, and rescuers would have much of a chance in finding them down and saving them." The remoteness of the ocean makes rescue efforts extremely challenging.
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Search and Rescue Difficulties: Locating a downed aircraft in the vast Pacific Ocean is a major undertaking. The vastness of the ocean and the limited resources for search and rescue make it difficult to find and save survivors.
Why Not All Flights Take This Route
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Strategic Routing: Airlines typically prefer flight paths with airports along the way, which can serve as emergency landing spots. This is not possible for long routes across the middle of the Pacific.
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Evolving Technology: While historical limitations and concerns were significant, advancements in aircraft technology and navigation have enabled some longer Pacific flights to become more feasible and safe, albeit with a cautious approach to route planning and risk mitigation.
Summary
Although flights do cross the Pacific, they typically avoid the longest, most direct routes due to the severe risks associated with mid-ocean emergencies. The combination of limited emergency landing sites, lower survival rates in the event of a crash, and difficult search and rescue operations makes long, direct Pacific crossings generally avoided.
