We have the tendency to think of air travel as a means of transport which naturally is true. But just how much of a role does air travel really play in our lives?
Let’s initially consider just one aircraft- the Boeing 737. This aircraft was first brought into service in the early 1960s and it and the aircraft has been in service virtually constantly since then. Of course, there have been some changes. Slight tweaks and alterations to improve efficiency and safety for example. This is no different than other kinds of aircraft. Consider this though: there is said to be a Boeing 737 taking off somewhere on the planet every 5 seconds. Just think about that for a moment. Remember, this is just one type of plane. These figures come from data gathered from reputable air traffic movement sources.
As for other kinds of planes, well nearly every time you watch your TV I can guarantee you’ll spot an image of a Boeing 747. Now, these aircraft move between 400 and 500 people at time over long distances.
So far I’ve mentioned examples of just a couple of the more popular aircraft in the world today. Aeroplanes we know and ones that if we take a trip, we’re likely to fly aboard for both short and long haul flights.
Why don’t we have a look at another manner in which aviation might affect all of us. A large number of hospitals nowadays have spaces for landing helicopters. These are used for a number of things in our daily lives. The particular one I’m referring to is the lifesaving machine that conveys a person from something like a road accident in the fastest way, thereby cutting down the time before the patient can be given medical help.
We also come across helicopters – possibly daily – anytime we drive on motorways to and from our places of work. They are used to observe traffic movement and congestion and are able to report whenever there is a need to send emergency vehicles.
Up until now I have primarily to the topic of aircraft in our every day lives and in particular what are referred to as civil aircraft. Nevertheless, we do not realise that we are also being safeguarded by military aircraft that patrol our skies. Usually we don’t see them – but they are there.
Day in day out we have military aircraft flying somewhere in the world, often not taking part in military exercises, but actually performing important humanitarian work such as supplying food to impoverished people and taking vital medicines and other supplies to remote parts of the world.
Perhaps we should also think about how every one of these different kinds of aircraft are kept in the air. I’m not actually talking about the professional pilots and air crews here, although they certainly play a vital role in ensuring our safety safeguarding us when we fly, but instead the technicians on the ground who look after and maintain the planes. These people use their abilities and knowledge on a daily basis, along with specialist aviation tools supplied by companies such as Red Box Tools, and the reality that flight is just about the safest way to travel is thanks to their expertise.
You would simply be amazed by the variety of specialist tools that these aviation mechanics work with. For example, you may well recognise some like screwdrivers and sockets as being the types of tools you would also find in any other kind of tool kit but other more unusual tools you probably wouldn’t be familiar with at all.
Of course it’s very easy to take for granted all of the advantages that air travel brings us nowadays. Having said this, it has become something we have come to rely on so much and probably wouldn’t have the ability to live without.
Air Travel of the Past and Present 