(We still rely on this engine which gulping a fossil fuel)
Since the ever-increasing rate of air travel, there is clearly a need for more planes. Better if they're faster, pack more people, cheaper to run and economical to maintain.
New concerns on global warming warming intensifying so soon after sharp hikes in oil prices, coupled with shortages of available aircraft and congested airports, the issue of travel has never been so high in most people's minds.
Travel today is a basic necessity, be it on land, air or sea. It's has come under fire for the rapid consumption of fossil fuels and increasing pollution effects on global warming.
The main problem with air travel is that there are very few alternatives available, unlike eco-friendly options of bicycles and electric trains for land transport and wind-powered sailing maritime vessels.
Hence, all new aircraft like A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner are all being watched very closely for fuel emissions and the size of their carbon footprints.
Aviation carbon emissions calculated on the basis of per kilometer traveled are very closed to that produced by cars transporting single passengers. Since there are for more cars running compared to airplanes (plus manufacturing industries pollution), overall contribution by aircraft around the world currently make up only three percent of overall carbon emissions.
Research into more eco-friendly aviation technology is progressing rapidly, foremost with better engines and fuels. To conserve on fossil fuels, there is already much focus on bio-fuels that is very far from living up to its promise. Bio-fuels still don't fully address the issue of carbon emissions and there is simply no available alternative to the existing aviation fuels that packs enough power needed to send multi-tonnes aircraft aloft.
If better high-powered sources still can't be obtained then we may stuck with the kerosene-burning physics. Or is there another way forward?
The magic promise of clean electricity has been around for awhile, as has the lure of limitless solar energy supplies. Reality check has shown that such concept still remain far from a practical solution.
