In recent years, there has been a big increase in air travel
and many large airports have now reached the limit of the number of aircraft
movements they can handle. The problem is made worse by the size of many major
cities which prevents the extension of existing airports. Any new airports to be
built a long way from city centers will create communication problems and in
many countries there simply isn’t enough land for such developments.
Now a new proposal has been put forward which would help to relieve the
congestion (拥挤), as far as short flights are concerned. This involves the use of
smaller aircraft, carrying about 50 passengers, which only require a short take
- off or landing area and which make comparatively little noise because they are
propeller -driven (螺旋桨推进). Such aircraft could operate much nearer city centers,
say, on disused industrial sites, and give a good service to businessmen and
other travelers who are going between centers, which are relatively close, such
as European capitals. The main problem remaining is the question
of noise. There has been so much publicity in recent years regarding the high
level of noise near airports, that any government can expect to find
considerable resistance to building new airports in towns, even though these
short -range small planes are relatively quiet. The fact remains that increasing
numbers of people want to travel by air and will accept somewhat slower flights
if they can have the convenience of an airport near the city center. In the end.
it’s a question of compromise between the travelers and the local
inhabitants. What is the publicity about if a new airport is built near towns