Did you know that only 11% of the world’s population travels by air?This means that a vast majority of the world’s population has never actually been to an airport. China is the most populated country in the world, and has been home to the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic, the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.Most of the world’s busiest commercial airports see more than 30 million passengers per year.In simple words, flying using an aircraft and activities related to this area are collectively known as aviation. Aviation is mainly used for travel, transport of goods, and military protection. Some aviation enthusiasts fly private aircraft as a hobby. Commercial airplanes are usually divided into four classes: economy class, premium economy class, business class, and first-class.Ticket prices and additional services like multi-course meals and sleeping cabinets increase as you move from the economy to first class. There are many types of aircraft: fixed-wing, rotary-wing types, morphable wings, and more.The first huge body aircraft took flight in 1970. Huge body aircraft that are bigger in size and have more engines than narrow-body aircraft carry more than 350 passengers at a time.Jumbo jets are the largest wide-bodied airplanes in the world. The largest jumbo jet in the world, the Airbus A380, can carry between 575-850 passengers.In today’s aviation industry, a commercial airplane usually travels at an average speed of 460-575 mph (736-920 kph). But the fastest jet airplane in the world, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, can reach a speed of 2,100 mph (3,360 kph).An FBO (Fixed Base Operator) handles the aviation and servicing of private jets and other private aircraft. The standard temperature for aviation at which an aircraft should fly is 50 F (10 C).Apart from commercial and military aviation, general aviation comprises most forms of aviation wherein civilians are involved, like recreational flying, sightseeing, parachute jumping, policing, wildlife research, news and traffic reporting, and the like.Starting from the year 2021, Disney has become a part of the aviation industry by using small regional airlines to promote its business. Are you enjoying these interesting facts? Keep reading for more!Air SafetyIn the aviation industry, air safety is of prime importance to avoid a disastrous plane crash. While the chances of airplane crashes or risky flying incidents are relatively low in today’s technologically advanced aviation world, the need for air safety precautions is always necessary.In the aviation sector, mishaps are avoided by educating passengers about the safety regulations in a flight before takeoff and training the airplane crew on board about the steps to be followed during any unexpected incident.But it is primarily the duty of the pilot to follow all safety rules and regulations to fly the airplane responsibly, as the pilot is ultimately in charge of the lives of hundreds of passengers. It is equally important for the Air Traffic Control to help the pilot and copilots navigate efficiently through bad weather and heavy air traffic near airports.The primary possible air safety hazards include the following: foreign object debris on the runway or in the aircraft’s structure during manufacture; misleading information or lack of information from ground control; strong lightning, as modern aircraft can withstand normal lightning without much damage; ice or snow accumulation on the runway or on sensitive parts of the aircraft like the wings and wheels; engine failure.In multi-engine aircraft, an emergency landing is made upon the failure of the first engine, but the inability to land the aircraft after the second engine’s failure results in a plane crash.In 1926-27 combined, there were 24 fatal commercial aircraft crashes.Due to the continuous improvements in aircraft structures and air safety regulations, in 2017, there were only 10 fatal airline accidents across the world. It is hoped that this number can be further brought down in the coming years, with even more improvements in the aviation industry.Air Traffic ControlPilots cannot fly in such vast airspace alone. They need guidance from a team of controllers at ground level that helps them maintain a safe distance from other aircraft, avoid harsh weather and stay on the correct route to their destination.This work is done by the ATC (Air Traffic Control). Air Traffic Control’s main purpose is to regulate air traffic across the world, ensure that airplanes in each other’s vicinity maintain a safe distance, prevent collisions and plane crashes, and provide all forms of informational support to the pilots during the flight.Air traffic controllers track the location of their respective aircraft through radar and maintain constant communication with the pilots by radio. Broadly, there are four types of ATCs: center controllers who control airplanes flying between airports, oceanic controllers that control aircraft that fly over international waters, terminal controllers who control aircraft in wider areas around busy airports, and control towers that help aircrafts land and take off and function in small distances around an airport.ATCs serve all military, private and commercial airplanes within their airspace and often play a defensive role for the country.Environmental ImpactAviation requires the burning of fuels to produce power for aircraft—this type of combustion on a global scale has a few negative environmental impacts.There is a release of impure carbon particles known as soot into the atmosphere, along with other pollutants.There is the production of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.There is the release of nitrogenous compounds that interact with the ozone layer and damage it.There is noise pollution, caused by the landing and taking off of aircraft.Kids’ Safety MeasuresSometimes, kids have to fly alone. Their parents equally fear for their safety in airports and on flights.Some parents even fear flying with their children, as there are chances of small kids falling sick during air travel. Here are some quick kids’ safety measures for children in airplanes.While it might be hard to appease a growing kid’s taste buds, keeping children hydrated during flights with liquids such as tomato juice or orange juice provided in airplanes is important.If the child’s stomach is sensitive, make sure there is access to suitable food to avoid food poisoning.If a child is older than two years of age, parents should buy a separate seat for the child if possible so that the child can be adequately restrained to his seat during the flight and stay safe during any turbulence.
Did you know that only 11% of the world’s population travels by air?
