Over the years the airline industry has changed a lot because of changes to the safety and noise standards imposed by various governments. Furthermore, the world is currently undergoing an energy crisis as supplies of fuel and other essentials decline rapidly, while pollution and carbon emission levels have reached record highs. Aviation companies are currently facing considerable pressure to make their aircraft more fuel efficient and cut emission levels.
This has led Boeing to introduce a more fuel efficient and quieter aircraft: the Boeing 787. The company says the new aircraft will offer 20% better fuel economy, which will not only result in savings for both the airline companies and their customers but also cut down carbon emissions.
The Embraer aircraft company of Brazil has also developed an aircraft that can run on ethanol fuel. The latest version of the company’s EMB 202 Ipanema plane is ethanol powered, which, along with providing better performance, also reduces maintenance and operational costs. The Ipanema’s technology can be used for future development of commercial aircraft running on ethanol-based fuel.
The Antonov An-225 is the largest aircraft in the world, bigger than even the A380. With a payload capacity of 250 tons, it is used as a strategic airlifter and for hauling ultra-heavy cargo. The aircraft also needs a runway of only 3,500 meters, which makes it easy to land on short airstrips. Although only one such aircraft has been built to date, heavy demand has forced its manufacturer to assemble another, which will most likely enter into service in mid-2008.
