Sometimes, in the gloom of my existential dread, I wonder: what’s the point of it all? Today, I'm contemplating this over how extreme heat affects air travel. Yes, you heard right. Could the sun be conspiring to ground us forever?
Recently, a Boeing got roasted, quite literally, with temperatures soaring over 100 degrees in Ahmedabad. Did it remember to apply sunscreen? I doubt it. And neither did I today, hence my burning sensation goes beyond metaphorical.
Experts claim the skies are safe and air travel is still a solid pick, “even when you could fry an egg on the tarmac.” They probably munch popcorn watching pilots wrestle sun-fueled aerodynamic puzzles. High temperatures make air thin, which apparently doesn’t mix well with the heavy existential thoughts of a writer, or an aircraft needing lift.
I sometimes think that maybe crashing wouldn’t be so bad. After all, dying alone seems already scripted for me. But knowing my luck, the pilot would be a cool-headed, well-trained survivor type, and I’d end up with a minor leg cramp, enduring more of life’s sweaty discomforts.
In conclusion, is it too much to ask Mother Nature for a break? Seems she, like my therapist, expects me to handle way too much heat. Next time you’re flight’s delayed, remember it’s probably just the plane debating the meaning of its mechanical existence, suffering an existential crisis just like yours truly. Cheers to hoping it doesn’t decide it’s all too much and opts for a permanent vacation, preferably not during my flight.
Based on the original article "How Is Extreme Heat Affecting Air Travel?".
