Airplane

Have you ever wondered what it takes for today's airplanes to get you to your favorite vacation spot? Technology is the driving force behind the air carrier industry and it has benefited tremendously from it. Now air travel is much more convenient than when it first started thanks to technology. When you fly you probably don't even think about all that is going on in that airplane: microprocessors calculating routes, keeping an eye on the weather, and even the surrounding traffic. It wasn't always like this, but the good news is that it is going to get better.

In the early days of aviation during World War I, people used to think that planes were only good for dropping bombs and dog fighting. The idea of flying was not viewed favorably among the American people; they were downright scared to get into a flying machine. In 1927 Charles Lindbergh made aviation famous when he flew across the Atlantic Ocean. Industries began to develop aircraft for commercial use and by 1935 the United States had four major airlines. There were all sorts of developments that the industry would adapt to. The radio, for example, was used as a navigation aide. Modern airlines then began to fly airplanes like the Boeing 247 or the DC-3. The DC-3 pictured below had 50% greater passenger capacity and cost less to operate than any competitor at the time. Airlines wanted to fly higher to avoid turbulence and, in doing so, the pressurized cabin was developed. Aviation had an enormous impact on the course of World War II and the war had just as big of an impact on aviation. The jet engine and radar were developed during this time and the jet age was born. Aviation advanced rapidly taking advantage once again of war-induced technology, this time the Cold War. So what does it take for today's airplanes to get your favorite vacation spot?

Computers have changed the way we live our day-to-day lives and the aviation industry took advantage of this. Take the worldwide web for example. As a consumer, you can shop for your airline tickets in the comfort of your own home and get great deals at the same time. Easy Jet is a company that has taken the internet concept and revolutionized the business by becoming a European based company that has a reputation for offering cheap fares. All you have to do is go to online eand book your ticket, but they took it a step farther. They also provide internet cafes, car rental service, and even banking. As you browse for the perfect vacation spot, advertisement windows pop up with quotes and all you have to do is pick one, pack your bags and show up at the airport. Upon arrival to the airport, clearing security will be your next step.

Now more than ever security is one of the biggest issues since September 11th at every airport around the world. Making sure that passengers and the facilities they use remain safe has become a logistical nightmare. Having a false alarm could create a ripple of problems in the entire country and not to mention billions of dollars in losses. The commercial industries now have to look for better ways of conducting their security checks and still keep up with the flow of passengers. There is a new technology devoted to identification of individuals using biological traits, such as those based on retinal scanning, fingerprints, or face recognition. One of the products that is being looked at to speed up lines at the airport is a device that scans a person's iris. The system consists of a camera that scans a person's eye, identifies their iris pattern, and matches it to their boarding information. A recent article, Iris Scanning Technology to Speed Airline passengers, stated "the eyes colored band can be a better identifier than finger prints. The company's software uses 260 possible points of reference upon which to base a match. Finger prints, by comparison, rely on 60 to 70 reference points." (www.newsfactor.com). The system is already being tested in the US and there are already plans to implement the system at Europe's largest gateway airport. Now that you have gotten past security you are ready to board the plane.

Depending on where you have decided to vacation, you could be required to sit inside the airplane for many hours to get to your vacation spot. The airlines want you to be as comfortable and entertained during your trip as possible. Now I won't even touch on first class since we all know that first class will always be top of the line technology. So lets head back to a more familiar territory, business and coach classes. Overall, we are getting a good service back there. For instance, you can watch a show or movie of your preference and you can even make a call if you can afford it. Soon, you will be able to cruise the internet while you fly, just like you were at home. Air Canada recently tested the new technology, developed by Tenzing, and people were able to send and receive e-mails. Boeing is also developing an air-based internet network known as "Connection by Boeing" which will provide high speed internet service to aircraft in flight. The technology is being based on a proprietary phased array receive and transmit antenna that Boeing has been developing for some time. The antenna allows you to track satellites to bring the signals into the aircraft and send the broadband data off. The connection will be much faster than the one you would normally get at home. The technology will be implemented later this year on North American routes. (www.cnn.com) Technology also plays a big role in the cockpit assisting pilots to fly the aircraft safer.

Take, for instance, the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). TCAS is an instrument tied to other systems on the aircraft that provide a set of electronic eyes so the pilot can see and be aware of the traffic in the surrounding area.

The system will show the relative speed and altitude of other aircraft up to 40 miles away. If another aircraft were to pass too closely, an alarm would sound and provide the pilot with a resolution advisory. TCAS provides a backup to the air traffic control system's regular separation process. When the two commercial jets crashed over southern Germany earlier this month, they were both equipped with TCAS. Accident officials released the cockpit voice recorder data of both flights, which shows that TCAS resolution advisory was right on the money. Now, let's take it a step further and introduce satellite-based technology, like the global positioning system (GPS).

GPS is a satellite navigation system funded and controlled by the United States Department of Defense. The system was design for the military use at first, but is now available in the civilian sector. GPS provides specially coded satellite signals that can be processed in