Is travel by flying really the great evil that some suggest?

Question

Does a transatlantic flight typically result in a greater number of harmful emissions than a sizeable container ship crossing the same ocean?

What if we divide the airplane's emissions by the number of people that it can carry - how does it compare to a public bus or a private car?

Answer 1

In the case of smalll aircraft--they are more energy efficient ( in trms of passengers/miles) than automobiles. A jet aircraft is comparable to a car--despite the efficiency of caarrying a lot of people, it takes a lot of power and thus fuel to achive its high speed. That's changing--the newest generation of aircraft are very fuel efficient.

Buses are not very efficient (either econonomically or energy-wise) though they are better than individual cars. But true mass transit technology (subay-type trains) and "light rail" (trollys and streetcars) are extremely cost effective and energy efficint.

For long distance travel the most energy efficient methodd is the railroad. But--there is a technology that could be implemented that would be much faster, and even more energy efficient. Surprisingly enough, its an old idea--lighter-than-air airccraft (dirigables/zepplins). We now know how to build them safely--and they can travelfaster than trains--only conventional aircraft are faster. And because they require no fuel to keep themselves in the air, they use very little fuel. whether anyone will make the investment to implement a passenger service using them is unkodwn--but I think they would be popular--they have other advantages as well (they can be roomier than passenger planes, not that that would take much!) and would be cheaper.

Answer 2

A representative of one of the major airlines claimed on T.V. recently that the bigger aircraft have a fuel consumption of approximately 2.5 miles per gallon. If we consider that most long haul aircraft can carry at least 400 passengers, then that means that each passenger is travelling using the equivalent fuel consumption of 1000 miles per gallon. An average car fuel consumption is 35 to 40 miles per gallon, which is 25 times worse than the aircraft. It is not just the emissions that are the issue but the sheer quantity of carbon rich fuel that is being used up. What is required is multi-deck trains with state subsidised fares, electric cars for short journeys and an end to the internal combustion engine.

Answer 3

It takes a lot to defy gravity you know - that and the fact the emmissions are being blown straight into the upper atmos. really isn't good.

Don't worry - we're all going to die anyway.

Answer 4

Obviously it is since it's not mentioned in the Bible.

Answer 5

What in the hell have you been smoken