What Do Airline Passengers Experience When Flying During A Solar Eclipse?

A closer look at a special experience.


Photo: Simple Flying

April 8th will see a total solar eclipse take place over North America, with thousands of keen spectators having already booked accommodation in its path. However, for those not content with witnessing the spectacle from the ground, special flights represent an interesting and different way to take in the phenomenon. With this in mind, what should passengers on such flights expect to see? Let's find out!

A better perspective

In the run-up to Monday's total solar eclipse, which will see the orbit of the moon block the sun for almost four-and-a-half minutes, Simple Flying had the chance to speak to Dr Frederic Bertley about the topic. Bertley serves as the President and CEO of the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) museum in Columbus, Ohio, and outlined one of the advantages of viewing the eclipse from a plane as follows:

"While many major cities across the US will be in the path of totality on eclipse day, a lot of them have a 60 - 80% chance of cloud cover on the ground. (...) Those on an airplane will be cruising above the clouds, minimizing the chance that any weather pattern or cloud cover could disrupt their awesome view. In-flight viewers will also have a different perspective at 30,000 feet than they would on the ground."

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As it happens, it isn't just the view of the eclipse that is better from above the clouds. Indeed, the fact that airline passengers witness the phenomenon from a fast-moving plane also means that they can enjoy the spectacle for longer, if flying in the right direction. Commenting on this factor, Bertley explains that:

"For those flying in the path of totality, the eclipse viewing experience will be longer. An airplane moves fast, typically around 500 mph, but the shadow along the path of totality moves even faster, roughly 1000 mph. Traveling eastward at typical airplane speed appears to “slow down” the speed at which the shadow travels by 50%, extending the viewing experience from a little over four minutes on earth to over six minutes in the air."

Keeping safe

Both airlines and their passengers have recognized the opportunity to view a solar eclipse from the sky, with Delta Air Lines having to add a second 'eclipse flight' after the first sold out. Fellow US carrier United Airlines has also noted that bookings for flights along the path of totality have increased, while Austin–Bergstrom International Airport is preparing for an increase in passengers on April 8th.

Such is the expected level of traffic along the path of totality that the FAA has issued an advisory notice warning of potential delays in the area on Monday. However, amid all the excitement surrounding the eclipse, and the possibility of viewing it from the air, it is important to remember to stay safe while doing so. Bertley emphasized the importance of protective eyewear, telling Simple Flying:

"Only glasses marked with ISO 12312-2 are safe for direct sunlight exposure, allowing viewers to experience the beauty of the eclipse corona without any damage to their eyes. This is extremely important because we don’t feel eye damage right away. Our retinas do not have pain receptors, so you won’t even know there’s an issue until at least 12-24 hours later. Outside of this, however, there are no additional risks for viewing the eclipse on a plane."

Another aspect to consider is the importance of aircraft retaining a safe weight balance. Naturally, the visual spectacle of the eclipse is something that all passengers will want to get a good look at, meaning that they might feel inclined to bunch up on one side of the aircraft for the best view. However, this would cause balance issues, with Bertley offering the following advice on the matter:

"Traveling west to east, staying along the path of totality, (...) you want to be sitting on the right side of the plane. If traveling in the other direction, on a non-path of totality flight, the left is better. (...) Smaller chartered or private aircraft may allow passengers to look across the aisle and view the eclipse from the opposite window. However, this won’t be possible on larger commercial [aircraft], so people on the special path of totality flights should consider themselves lucky if they choose to sit on the correct side."

The best seats in the house

It is also interesting to consider why this particular eclipse has generated such considerable interest in terms of special flights along the path of totality. After all, as Bertley notes, "solar eclipses aren't rare." However, he also adds that "another eclipse of this type will not be visible in the contiguous United States until August of 2044," which provides more of an explanation as to why, as he puts it:

"Airlines are therefore capitalizing on the rarity of this event and offering passengers a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Interestingly, despite the immense and understandable levels of interest from passengers traveling on flights along the path of totality, they won't be the people on the plane with the best view of the spectacle. Indeed, as Bertley notes, "pilots won't have to deal with strangers leaning over them trying to get a view of this epic natural wonder!" In his view, the cockpit is the best seat in the house, and he adds:

"Not only will [pilots] see [the eclipse] first, but, because of the cockpit location and wider windows providing a greater field of vision, they will also have the longest viewing time over any of the other passengers. In addition, because of the relatively smaller space of the cockpit, they will also have a clear view out of both the east and west sides of the plane."

All in all, viewing an eclipse from a plane certainly sounds like an impressive spectacle. Whether on April 8th or in the future, stay safe and happy viewing!