American Airlines planes will be able to take the heat at Phoenix airports

PHOENIX — The extreme heat that will continue to smother the Phoenix area for at least another day won’t interfere with American Airlines planes taking off this time.

The airline said Tuesday higher limits on departure temperatures will keep their flights on track to leave in severely hot weather — Tuesday was expected to reach 116 degrees. Earlier forecasts thought the worst could be 118 degrees.

An extreme heat wave forced 50 American and American Eagle flights from the Valley to be canceled June 19-21 last year.

The revised limits will allow regional carrier Bombardier aircraft to leave at 123.8 degrees. International Standard Atmosphere stipulations previously wouldn’t allow Bombardier aircraft to take off in temperatures higher than 117.86 degrees.

At least one afternoon during the 2017 extreme heat, it reached 118 degrees at Sky Harbor. Most jetliners are certified to withstand 122 degrees.

The airline, along with regional flyer SkyWest, goes in and out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Another of its regional carriers, Mesa Air, flies to and from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

“With these changes, we don’t anticipate any cancelations/delays due to the extreme heat in Phoenix,” the airline said Tuesday in an email.

2017 limits:

• Airbus aircraft: 127 degrees
• Boeing aircraft: 126 degrees
• Bombardier CRJ regional aircraft: 117.86 degrees

2018 limits:

• Airbus aircraft: 127 degrees
• Boeing aircraft: 126 degrees
• Bombardier CRJ regional aircraft: 123.8 degrees

That revised limit will not likely be tested, but the old standard could have been this week.

VERY hot today with readings 114 to near 120 over hottest deserts. Phoenix could reach above 116 if afternoon remains generally sunny. Stay hydrated! #azheat #caheat pic.twitter.com/Mgq2pZIlzt

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) July 24, 2018

The Valley endured its hottest day of the year on Monday, topping out at 115.

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