Airways: Geography Project

Air transport is among the more recent means of transport invented by mankind, and is currently unmatched (by other modes of transport) when it comes to speed, time-saving and long-distance operations.
Invented by the Wright brothers, aeroplanes have evolved into more sophisticated machines that can go a lot faster and carry much more load.

It has brought the world closer, made it easy to reach remote and inaccessible areas, and played a significant role in growing the economies of countries. Today, air transport also plays an important role during calamities.
Aviation technology has advanced so much that big companies are now offering trips to outer space and even the moon.

Until a couple of decades back, only the rich could afford travelling by plane in India. However, things are a lot different today. There are several airline operators in India, several airports have been constructed in India, air-tickets have fallen drastically, and the middle class can afford to travel my aeroplane.

The Wright Brothers were the first to invent the airplane and in 1903 they tested the first powered and controlled airplane flight; two years later they built and flew the first fully practical airplane. Since then, a lot has changed in air-transportation.

Advantages and disadvantages of air transport

It’s Faster: Flying by air is the fastest mode of transport compared to other modes such as rail, road or water. Flying in air is much faster compared to moving on tracks, roads or on water.

Helps Business, Useful during calamities: Air transport has made it easier to do business and it is much faster to move people and cargo from one place to another. Air transport also plays an important role during calamities by helping in evacuation efforts.

It’s Expensive: Aeroplanes require only a runway for take-off (whereas trains and buses require construction of tracks and roads). But there are other costs involved, which make air transport expensive, compared to other modes of transport.

The operating costs of aeroplanes are higher, and you require skilled pilots to fly the planes.

It requires construction of Airports, and requires skilled people to handle the various ground operations.

Smaller Carrying Capacity: Compared to trains, most flights have small passenger carrying capacities (though there are a few jumbo jets that can carry many more passengers)

Then there are other factors which can impact air-transport.

Bad weather conditions can cause flights to be delayed.

Bird hits can cause damage to aircrafts requiring expensive repairs

Various Types of Air Transportation

Aeroplane: This is the most common type. You can travel long distances and it can carry several passengers at one go. Besides transporting people, it’s also used to carry cargo from one place to the other.

Helicopter: It can take-off and land vertically. It can be still at one place in the sky. It’s commonly used for travelling short distances, aerial views, and even is useful in rescue missions to save lives.

Amphibious Aircrafts: These are used for travelling short distances and these aircrafts can also land over water. A Glider is one such aircraft.

Balloons: It’s much slower and common used in tourism for sight-seeing activities

Conclusion

Air transport is the most recent mode of transport and can be considered as the gift of the 20th century to the world. Aircrafts played an important role in the Second World War, and seeing their importance, countries around the world gave a big push to the development of air transport. Today aircrafts are much more sophisticated, and major airlines cover almost all the countries in the world by air. Air transport has not only made it easier for people to travel to far-off places and to save on travel time, air transport today play an important role in a regions economic growth and development.

Useful Links

• Aviation Industry in India – Aviation Sector Analysis, Growth
• Indian Aviation Industry, Aviation Sector in India, About Analysis
• The Future Is Built Here (Video by Aircraft manufacturer ‘Boeing’)
• Air travel on Wikipedia

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