The aviation industry has witnessed a significant growth in the last few decades following the advancement of technology. According to Hansen (2004), the aviation industry has seen airplane development as one of the most sophisticated technologies of the twentieth century, affecting the lives of American society and international community significantly.
Although the development has been gradual, it is indeed evident that today’s aircrafts are more complex and able to perform some hitherto unimaginable tasks, more so following the production of the supersonic aircrafts and spaceflights.
In the history of air technology, hydrogen balloons were invented in the 17th and 18th century; however, it is in early 20th century following various experiments that the development of engine technology and aerodynamics was perfected, leading to o development of powered flights.
During the 1930s, a new generation of modern airlines appeared, as low winged monoplanes became equipped with cowled engines, retractable landing gear, and refined aerodynamic contours and became icons of the decade.
The success of this technology was facilitated by the airlines developed had advanced features that involved lightness, economy of design, and use of modern materials such as aluminium.
By 1940’s, air travel emerged as an acknowledged form of transportation. However, before, then, aviation industry had played a key role on the World War I, as it not only facilitated restoration of peace, but also marked the turning point in terms of evolution of military aviation (Pisano, 2003, p. 19). Indeed, the U.S navy built its first aircraft carriers for both offensive and defensive missions.
By 1950, the airplane had become an accepted feature of contemporary American life as well as an icon of its cultural heritage and its legacy to the world (Pisano, 2003, p. 7).
Whether old or new, examples of the persistence of flight in the popular imagination continued to show up in the American culture, but military themes clearly played a strong role.
Positive aspects of aviation in America
Aviation industry in the US has greatly developed during the last few decades, with significant influence being witnessed in the economic growth of America in various ways (Corn, 2002, p. 75).
To begin with, the expanding airports and the growth of aviation are evidenced to spur economic gains especially through fostering employment.
Specifically, the aviation industry provides employment to millions of Americans and other trading affiliates both directly and indirectly.
In terms of direct employment, the industry employs pilots, cabin crew, aeronautical engineers, aircraft servicemen, and baggage handlers, while indirect employs may result from various procurements or outsourcing services that the industry may require from time to time.
Additionally, some traders will benefit from aviation industry when the above two groups of employees spend their earnings on purchasing goods from them (traders), thus, the industry is associated with multiplicative flow of income in the society.
Due to expansion, the aviation industry in the U.S has led to more airports like Heathrow, Miami, JFK, and Puerto Rico among the numerous large and busy airports, all of which have provided employment to a grater population within America.
Aviation has led to an increased sustainability of America in terms of military security (Pisano, 2003, p.25). As one of the world’s superpowers, America has adopted a modern aircraft technology to manufacture state-of-the-art airlines, mainly used in defense sector.
For instance, the 1945 US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was facilitated by American’s prowess in aircraft weaponry compared to her foes in the World War II (1945) (Pisano, 2003, p.26).
Ever since, more sophisticated military aircrafts has been developed to protect America from the ever-increasing enemies and competitors in the global economy.
Moreover, a combination of well-trained army personnel and availability of combat equipment has enabled America to become one of the most sophisticated superpower states in the world.
A recent scenario was the attack of Libya by US forces using its modern aircraft technology where missiles were launched. Through the use of such a aviation technology, the military is always far ahead of its enemy in terms of launching attacks, scheduling, and hitting the target without causing huge civilian casualty.
Indeed, in comparison with the earlier wars where many civilians lost their lives, the latest attacks have had minimal casualties, thanks to the advancement of technology in aircraft weaponry.
The American society has enjoyed flexible and faster means of transportation to any destination.
Generally, air transportation, according to Donohue (2001, p. 1), refers to “the movement of people and material through the third dimension, usually in heavier-than-air vehicles,” designed in such a way that they have the ability to make connections across various destinations within a very short time compared to other modes of transport.
Over the last five decades, air transport in the US has been growing exponentially, thanks to the advent of technology. Indeed, Donohue (2001, p. 1) notes that the US enjoys a considerable share of world’s aviation industry, “operating approximately 40% of the world’s commercial air transportation, and has a considerable use of aircraft for private transportation.”
As a result, infrastructure has improved greatly and in turn, the economy of the U.S has skyrocketed due to the returns and other taxes paid by different airline companies to the U.S. government.
Negative aspects of Aviation in America
Aviation has a number of environmental impacts that are experienced by the local individuals in the vicinity of airports and under the flight paths (Whitelegg, 2000).
Noise pollution has been the source of concern as the aviation industry continues to grow exponentially. Noise damages health, significantly distracts peace and quiet environment, damages wildlife and learning ability of schoolchildren, and it costs a great deal of money through the costs of noise mitigation and noise abatement.
Noise is measured on a decibel, with a limit of 55db (A) being regarded as a level that should not be exceeded in a normal situation.
According to Dobris statistical compendium, the number of individuals exposed to 60dB (A) around three UK airports was as follows; “Heathrow (1989)-153,000; Gatwick (1989)-5,000; Luton (1990)-16,000” (Whitelegg, 2000).
According to a World Health Organization (cited in Whitelegg, 2000), noise pollution emanating from the aviation industry has been associated with health problems such as “hearing impairment, pain, interference of communication and speech perception” among other complications.
In addition, aircraft noise is associated with negative effects on children such as memory loss, poor concentration in school, and restlessness, a phenomenon that is absent in children living away from aircraft manifested zones.
The increased development of the aviation industry in the US has led to increased ground level air emissions that cause air pollution, more so due to the increased traffic of aircrafts and related machinery such as “traffic generators, freight distribution centers, taxi destinations and bus stations” (Whitelegg, 2000).
In the US, emissions from the Kennedy airport have significantly led to major ailments related to respiratory damage or complications.
Moreover, in the contemporary environment, aircraft pollutants are among the major causes of cancer complications. According to Whitelegg (2000), large concentrations of carbon monoxide are known to be the major causes of “nausea, drowsiness, and slowed reflexes,” while nitrogen oxides “impair respiratory cells and damage blood capillaries and cells of the immune system.”
In addition, “sulphur dioxide irritates the lung and is associated with chronic bronchitis,” and it is mainly linked to the thousands of deaths that occurred in “1952 London smog” (Whitelegg, 2000).
Another negative effect of aviation industry in the US involves increased levels of smuggling and development of drug cartels witnessed in various airports.
An example of such vice took place at Puerto Rico’s main airport, with aircrafts destined for US found to be smuggling tones of cocaine to some US cities, an action that was facilitated and conducted in cahoots with some American airline employees.
Conclusion
Aviation technology has increasingly developed since the early years. As a result, this technology has influenced a change in the social-economic setup and well-being of America and its relation with the entire world in terms of efficiency of different activities.
In terms of positivity, one would accurately accept the fact that it really is an efficient transportation mode for people and materials especially those perishables that need to reach the target markets in time.
On the contrary, aviation technology has resulted into many countries investing in order to be comparable with their neighbors in terms of military power, which has led to constant attacks in order to prove military manpower, as this is one of the driving forces that led to the rapid development of the aviation industry.
References
Corn, J. J. (2002). The Winged Gospel: America’s Romance with Aviation. NY: JHU Press. Web.
Donohue, G. (2001). Air Transportation Systems Engineering. Massachusetts: AIAA. Web.
Hansen, J. R. (2004). The Bird Is on the Wing: Aerodynamics and the progress of the American airplane. Texas: Texas A&M University Press. Web.
Pisano, D. (2003). The airplane in American culture. Michigan: University of Michigan Press. Web.
Whitelegg, J. (2000). Aviation: the social, economic and environmental impact of flying. Ashden Trust publishers. Web.