The Hindu Business Line : `Balance between flight safety and electronics a challenge'

Consumer electronics and avionics simply refuse to travel together, leaving manufacturers of portable electronic devices (PEDs) with hardly any option but continue their search for common ground that would accommodate both concurrently.

Air passengers love to enjoy their access to a variety of PEDs - ranging from the ubiquitous mobile phone, the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), laptop with Wi-Fi to DVD players.

But PEDs have been found to interfere with critical avionic systems in cockpit such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) and communication modules. Critical flight phases of takeoff and landing could be affected in this manner.

The fact of the matter is that business travellers, who want to stay connected and networked, are an airline's most profitable group of customers. No wonder airline companies are competing to provide new services, mostly electronic in nature, to these valued customers.

Striking a balance between flight safety and consumer electronic gadgetry is a real challenge, said Mr N. T. Nair, Chief Editor, Executive Knowledge Lines, and Editor, IEEE India Info Newsletter. He was presenting a paper on `Civil Aviation - An Overview' at an all-India seminar on civil aviation hosted by the Institution of Engineers here recently.

Air transport is a highly efficient user of resources and infrastructure. It boasts high occupancy rates of 65-70 per cent — which is more than double that of road or rail transport. Air transport entirely covers its infrastructure costs and, unlike road/rail, is a net contributor to national treasuries through taxation.

Modern aircrafts achieve fuel efficiencies of 3.5 litres per 100-passenger-kilometre. The next generation aircrafts (A380 and B787) is targeting an efficiency level of less than three litres, which exceeds that of any modern compact car available in the market.

New aircrafts are 20 decibels (dB) quieter than comparable aircrafts 40 years ago, corresponding to a reduction in noise annoyance by 75 per cent. A further 50 per cent reduction in noise levels during takeoff and landing is targeted to be achieved by year 2020.

Also, today's aircrafts are 70 per cent more fuel-efficient than they were 40 years ago. Carbon monoxide emissions have been reduced by 50 per cent, while unburned hydrocarbon and smoke have been cut by 90 per cent. Researchers aim to achieve a further 50 per cent in fuel savings and an 80 per cent in reduced emission of oxides of nitrogen by year 2020.

Enhancements in air traffic management have the potential to reduce fuel burn by six to 12 per cent, while operational improvements can bring an additional two to six per cent in fuel saving, Mr Nair said, quoting studies.

More Stories on : Airlines | Consumer Electronics | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Four Soft tool for TNT Freight

AAI inks pacts for airport revamp

HAL plans to make new military copter

`Balance between flight safety and electronics a challenge'

Sahara to operate with a new name

`Give civil aviation policy statutory status'

Are long working hours endangering flight safety?

Major ports register 10.3 pc growth in cargo in 2005-06

JN port container traffic up 12.46 pc

Floating bookshop coming to Chennai, Vizag

Govt gives in-principle nod for AI, IA merger

Rs 2-cr revenue loss to India Gateway

Concor hikes tariffs by 22 pc

SER handling up

Metro Rail to be extended to Noida