Instead of moving along a straight line, the jet stream flows in a wavelike fashion the waves propagate eastward (in the Northern Hemisphere) at speeds considerably slower than the wind speed itself.
Since the progress of an airplane is aided or impeded depending on whether tailwinds or headwinds are encountered.
The jet stream, narrow, swift currents or tubes of air found at heights ranging from 7 to 8 mi (11.312.9 km) above the surface of the earth.
They are caused by great temperature differences between adjacent air masses. There are four major jet streams.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the jet stream is sought by eastbound aircraft, in order to gain speed and save fuel, and avoided by westbound aircraft.
