Comments on: Jetting off to global warming http://westnorth.com/2006/06/16/jetting-off-to-global-warming/ an irregular view on cities Fri, 23 Jul 2010 04:50:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: d http://westnorth.com/2006/06/16/jetting-off-to-global-warming/#comment-71 d Fri, 16 Jun 2006 15:06:35 +0000 http://paytonc.wordpress.com/2006/06/16/jetting-off-to-global-warming/#comment-71 The explosive growth of air travel, especially in countries like China and India, is certainly disconcerting on the environmental front. But I do think that there are promising developments on the horizon... for example, the forthcoming Boeing is estimated at 20% more fuel efficient than existing models of the same class, which is not insignificant. And considering how long it takes to develop and manufacture a new airplane, this is based on the technologies of the late 90's, early 00's. Other advancements, particularly with bleedless engines and composite material engineering should yield serious improvements. As well, we're in the midst of a big turnover period as airlines phase out the 80's workhorses and modernize their fleets. This has been going on for many years, but the economic squeeze has created a new urgency and I think most airlines are making better choices for it. But the proliferation of low-cost-carriers and regional jet travel are really mixed bags, indeed. I'm sure it's only going to get worse, but perhaps all the competition will help spur advancement and improvement. I write this, incidentally, two minutes walk from the imposing Death Star of a building, which is home to the Kyoto Protocol. And we don't have an airport here. The explosive growth of air travel, especially in countries like China and India, is certainly disconcerting on the environmental front. But I do think that there are promising developments on the horizon… for example, the forthcoming Boeing is estimated at 20% more fuel efficient than existing models of the same class, which is not insignificant. And considering how long it takes to develop and manufacture a new airplane, this is based on the technologies of the late 90′s, early 00′s. Other advancements, particularly with bleedless engines and composite material engineering should yield serious improvements.

As well, we’re in the midst of a big turnover period as airlines phase out the 80′s workhorses and modernize their fleets. This has been going on for many years, but the economic squeeze has created a new urgency and I think most airlines are making better choices for it.

But the proliferation of low-cost-carriers and regional jet travel are really mixed bags, indeed. I’m sure it’s only going to get worse, but perhaps all the competition will help spur advancement and improvement.

I write this, incidentally, two minutes walk from the imposing Death Star of a building, which is home to the Kyoto Protocol. And we don’t have an airport here.

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