The Longest Haul

A pilot’s perspective on the long-haul flight between Australia and Dallas/Fort Worth

It’s just a number on a flight plan, but it’s a big one. 7554. That’s how many nautical miles it is from Sydney to Dallas Fort Worth in Texas and for the metrically-minded, that’s a touch less than 14,000 kilometres. With a nudge from a slight tailwind, it will take the 747-400ER (Extended Range) around 14 hours and 40 minutes to cover the Pacific Ocean and reach America’s “Lone Star” state. And yet it is the flight into wind, home to Brisbane, which will surpass 15 hours in a routine act of tremendous endurance. This is the longest haul.

The Lone Star State