- 14 hours ago
The Boeing 787 according to its manufacturers is a revolution in air travel; similar to the Airbus A380, the plane is made from carbon fibre reinforced plastics and aluminium glass fibre materials which are lighter and more resistant to fatigue.
探索航空世界, 从历史性飞行到现代飞行器, 纵览价值数十亿美元的民用航空业的历史与发展——从步履维艰的起步到如今的现代奇迹.
探索航空世界, 从历史性飞行到现代飞行器, 纵览价值数十亿美元的民用航空业的历史与发展——从步履维艰的起步到如今的现代奇迹.
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TechTranscript
00:25A rock star entry for a plane America hopes will rocket
00:29its industry to the core. It may not look very different, but this is a revolution with
00:35wings, a plane made from plastic and glue, and boy do they talk it up.
00:41We are helping to preserve the natural resources of this planet and its beauty for generations
00:47to come.
00:48It was the Battle of the Titans in the early 2000s when Airbus and Boeing unveiled their
00:54new giant airliners. Boeing presented the 787 Dreamliner,
00:59a mid-sized wide-body twin-engine jet. Airbus produced the A380, a double-decker wide-body
01:05four-engine aeroplane.
01:08It has become almost a battle royal for the bragging rights. And in this case, Airbus's
01:13product is coming in quite a bit later than the Boeing product, but we probably won't see
01:17the end of this battle in our lifetimes.
01:20The A380, or Super Jumbo, has been a huge undertaking for European company Airbus.
01:26The $12 billion project was launched in 2000 with 55 orders from six airlines. By the time
01:33the first airplane was delivered, five years later, costs had blown out to almost $16 billion.
01:41Building the giant airliner was a feat in itself. Like earlier airbuses, the aircraft was assembled
01:47at the company's Toulouse plant in France. But the components were so big that they needed
01:52to come by canal and road, rather than on the Beluga transport aircraft that usually ferried
01:58Airbus parts to the factory. Airbus was determined to use the latest technology in its flagship
02:04airplane. Improvements included the addition of two extra high-level air outlets, taking the total
02:11fuel to four, enabling cabin air to be refreshed every three minutes.
02:16With a new wing design and lightweight composite materials making up 25% of its structural weight,
02:23the A380 has greater fuel efficiency than previous models, producing 75 grams of carbon dioxide
02:29per passenger kilometer.
02:32The composite materials include carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, glass fiber-reinforced plastic,
02:38and quartz fiber-reinforced plastic used in the wings, fuselage sections, tail surfaces,
02:44and doors. It's also the first airliner to have a central wing box made from carbon fiber-reinforced
02:51plastic, and the first to have a smoothly contoured wing cross-section.
02:56The upper fuselage of the aircraft is made from a new aluminum glass fiber material that's lighter
03:02than aluminum and more resistant to fatigue, called glare, or glass-reinforced fiber-metal
03:08laminate. Glare is an improvement on earlier composites because it can be repaired using
03:13conventional aluminum techniques.
03:17Major research was undertaken into reducing the noise of the engines being designed for
03:21the superjumbo. With London's Heathrow Airport setting strict arrival and departure noise limits,
03:28the levels were a major consideration.
03:30Two types of engines can be fitted to the A380, the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 and the Engine Alliance
03:38GP 7000. Only two of the four engines are fitted with thrust reversers. The engines can run on a
03:45mixed synthetic jet fuel with a natural gas-derived component, significantly reducing fuel costs.
03:55By employing weldable aluminum alloys, Airbus is able to use laser beam welding manufacturing
04:01techniques, eliminating rows of rivets and producing a lighter, stronger structure.
04:07While the Boeing 747 has an upper deck in the hump behind the cockpit, the A380 is the world's
04:14first full double-decker, with two full levels giving a huge boost to passenger capacity.
04:22Airbus has made much of the many A380 configurations it can provide. The business and first-class options
04:29are particularly attractive to airlines such as Singapore and Qantas, which are keenly contesting
04:34long-distance routes. Extra storage capacity is a boon to economy travelers. Business-class comforts
04:42include individual wide-screen television panels, computer tables, access to power, and plenty
04:48of legroom. Facilities include bars and lounges, everything the traveler needs for onboard pampering.
04:55But it's in first class where the A380 really impresses. Private cabins with full-sized beds are
05:03reminiscent of luxury travel on the airships and flying boats of past eras.
05:09The crew rest area is equally well-appointed.
05:18With a capacity ranging from 525 to 853 passengers, depending on the configuration, the A3A is only suited
05:27to the world's biggest markets, according to David Leermont from Flight International.
05:33It'll only suit the airlines of the world, which operate the world's main trunk routes. The routes
05:42between the world's really big hubs. It's much the same as what the Boeing jumbo jet, the 747,
05:50does today. It joins all the big hubs of the world.
05:56And the big airports of the world were certainly keen to have the A380 on their premises. Sydney and Melbourne
06:03airports spent tens of millions of dollars strengthening their runways to ensure the A380 could land.
06:13The A380 took off on its maiden flight on the 27th of April 2005 from Toulouse, France, carrying a crew
06:21of six, including chief test pilot Jacques Rosé, and filled with 20 tons of monitoring equipment.
06:30With a wingspan of 80 meters, it was an impressive sight.
06:37The aeroplane soared out over the Bay of Biscay and flew without incident, landing three hours and 54 minutes later.
06:47Rosé later said flying it had been like handling a bicycle.
07:00The superjumbo's first transatlantic flight took place on the 10th of January 2006, when it flew from Toulouse to Medellin
07:08in Colombia to test engine performance at a high altitude airport.
07:12It then journeyed to Canada for cold weather testing.
07:17The following month, however, the A380's test wing failed during a certification test, forcing the manufacturer to add 30 kilograms
07:26to the wings to give it enough strength to meet the 150% load limit requirement.
07:32In May, the A380 arrived at London's Heathrow Airport for the first time.
07:40Heathrow is going to be the airport for many years to come, where more A380s will land and take off
07:48than anywhere else in the world.
07:50Because even though for the first few years there won't be an airline based here that operates them, Heathrow is
07:58where many of the world's major trunk routes converge.
08:03The A380 was in town to carry out compatibility tests with the terminal and airport to make sure its superjumbo
08:11size worked at all levels.
08:14Heathrow had spent more than £100 million on the passenger terminal in anticipation of the aircraft.
08:21The airport spent millions in modifications, knocking down parts of buildings and strengthening its runways.
08:35Finally, on the 4th of September, after passing an evacuation test that saw 853 passengers and 20 crew flee the
08:43aircraft in just 78 seconds, the A380 made its first full passenger flight.
08:57Airbus' marketing focused on the luxury elements available to passengers, although the focus was mostly on the comforts lavished on
09:04the privileged few in business and first class, rather than those sitting in the less salubrious surrounds of economy.
09:12This is really a game-changing airplane. If you think about it, everybody wants more space. They want more room.
09:19We want to stretch out. We want to have our comfort, but we don't want to have an impact on
09:24the environment.
09:25This airplane actually can take you in more comfort, even if you're in coach, with a bigger, wider seat, further
09:31than a 747, while burning very little fuel, much less fuel, in fact, about 80 miles per passenger seat per
09:40gallop, something you really have to think about.
09:42We'll also do it with about half the noise footprint. So you have about 35 or 40% more people,
09:50and half the noise impact at places like JFK here, or over at last, or perhaps even up in Heathrow.
09:59The launch of the A380 was a big occasion, with hordes of media converging on an aircraft hangar to get
10:06a close-up view of aviation's new giant.
10:13In March 2007, the A380 made its first flight with fair-paying passengers to the United States, landing at New
10:21York's JFK Airport.
10:24On board of this biggest passenger airliner in the world, on its first flight with regular passengers, and its first
10:33flight to the United States, to New York, John F. Kennedy.
10:37It was an exciting moment for the fortunate aviation buffs who scored a seat on a historic flight.
10:43The bar was well patronised, while business-class passengers enjoyed stretching out on the full-length beds.
10:50550 fair-paying passengers were on board the flight.
10:54The verdict was favourable, with most people impressed with the space and level of comfort available even in economy.
11:01It was also exciting for those waiting on the ground at New York's JFK International Airport.
11:07The aircraft's 262-foot wingspan made an impressive sight as it approached the runway.
11:14Across the other side of the United States, another A380 was touching down at Los Angeles International for the first
11:20time.
11:21On touchdown at both airports, tests were arranged to see how the double-decker handled on the ground,
11:27from docking at terminal gates and ground handling to exactly how long it took to refuel.
11:34Once the A380 was in the air, more orders came in from airlines around the world.
11:40However, there were production delays, caused by the complexity of the cabin wiring.
11:45There were 100,000 wires and 40,300 connectors, totalling more than 500 kilometres of wiring in every plane.
11:54Airbus had originally planned to produce 18 A380 aircraft in 2009, but the delays forced the company to scale that
12:02back to 14.
12:10Meanwhile, Airbus's popular A320 narrowbody short-to-medium range airliner continued to attract customers,
12:18as did the A330 and A350 widebodies.
12:23Today, U.S. Airways announces that it has agreed to terms with Airbus to purchase 60 of the A320 family
12:31aircraft,
12:33narrowbody aircraft, and 10 A330 200 aircrafts, as well as the most important announcement,
12:41we've agreed to firm up our commitment for the A350 XWV, which originally was 20 aircraft.
12:48We've now agreed to purchase 22 A350 XWVs.
12:54Such strong support was music to Airbus's ears.
12:57Now, to say that we're delighted is an understatement.
13:02The company continued to spruik its double-decker monster, parading its high-tech design and unmatched capacity at air shows
13:10around the world.
13:11But the A350 also received plenty of attention.
13:14The widebody twin-engine jet is scheduled to come into service by 2013.
13:21The extra-widebody firstly gives you more cabin width, a straighter sidewall, the side of the cabin is straighter,
13:29which means the passenger has more space around the head and the shoulder,
13:33so they're able to be more comfortable in the window seat.
13:37We can put wider seats in the aircraft, and we can also create greater volume around the upper area for
13:47your personal baggage.
13:50Baggage capacity and extra legroom were features welcomed by airlines competing on long-haul routes.
13:56However, some airline executives criticized the A350 project, condemning it as a band-aid reaction to Boeing's 787.
14:05Although Airbus had designed a new wing tail and cockpit, and added advanced new materials,
14:12the CEO of Singapore Airlines, Choo Choon Seng, argued the company should have gone further and designed a new fuselage.
14:19Singapore subsequently ordered 20 787s.
14:23However, after initially rejecting the A350, Emirates eventually put in a big order for the jet after changes were made.
14:37The long-lived A320 remains the company's most popular airliner.
14:42The pioneering jet had been the first aeroplane to feature a fully digital fly-by-wire flight control system,
14:48and the first to contain a significant amount of composite materials.
14:53New models now sport liquid crystal display units on the flight deck rather than the older cathode ray tube displays.
15:01Airbus has also tested new winglets for the A320.
15:05However, engineers concluded that the extra weight on the wings would cancel out any aerodynamic benefits.
15:12At the end of 2008, the company announced that it would test a new blended winglet design,
15:18using an original prototype A320 as the test aircraft, powered by CFM-56 engines.
15:26The current fleet of A320s, which includes the A318, 319 and 321 types, are particularly popular in Asian countries which
15:35have many short routes.
15:37China has become one of the company's biggest customers.
15:41For the future, Airbus is considering joining with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer to develop a replacement for the A320,
15:50known as the NSR, new short-range aircraft, to come into service late next decade.
15:58The Middle East is another lucrative market for Airbus.
16:01At the 2008 Farnborough Air Show, Qatar Airways unveiled a deal to buy up to six Airbus A321 planes,
16:09saying it was ready to set up a budget airline to repel any attack by a rival airline on its
16:15home market.
16:17Qatar Airways signed a memorandum of understanding to buy up to six of the narrow-body aircraft
16:22in a deal worth around US$540 million at list prices.
16:27Qatar Airways is ordering up to six Airbus A321 aircraft, four of which are firm and the other two are
16:35options for delivery between 2009 and 2010.
16:39Our new A321s will complement our existing narrow-body fleet on regional routes in the Middle East and the Indian
16:47subcontinent.
16:47If a market share is being eroded by low-cost carriers or people that have not thought about this low
16:57-cost model correctly,
16:59just trying to venture into our market, then we will launch a low-cost carrier within 90 days.
17:04We have a registered name, we have a study, we have aircraft available that will be reconfigured very quickly within
17:1590 days,
17:16and we will hit those low-cost carriers into their markets more aggressively,
17:21but giving a better product and a better service with lower than their cost.
17:28In the other corner, Boeing pulled out all stops to launch its 787 wide-body twin known as the Dreamliner.
17:37Conceived in the late 90s along with the Sonic Cruiser,
17:41the Dreamliner was the only aircraft left standing after customers rejected the higher costs of the Cruiser.
17:48Former newsman Tom Grokor was called out of retirement to front Boeing's glitzy 787 media promotion.
17:56What a historic day it is for the future of aviation.
18:00I'm someone who spends a lot of time on airliners,
18:03so I thought it might be a good idea for me to come here and take a look at our
18:08common future.
18:10The Dreamliner has been touted as a super-efficient aeroplane, featuring a wing and structure optimized for shorter-range flights.
18:19Boeing says it will bring the economics of large jet transports to the middle of the market,
18:24using 20% less fuel than any other aircraft of its size.
18:31Like the A380, the emphasis is on passenger comfort and increased baggage storage.
18:37But the aircraft has a significantly smaller passenger capacity,
18:41just 290 to 330 passengers compared to the A380's 500-plus.
18:49What's significant about the 787 is the way that it's made.
18:52It's made of a new kind of structure, carbonized structure, composite structure,
18:57which means that it's lighter, it's tougher, it's easier to manage.
19:00And being lighter means that it takes much less fuel to fly.
19:04So it represents a 20% reduction in fuel consumption, and therefore a 20% reduction in fuel emissions.
19:11Boeing boasts that the 787 isn't just cleaner and greener than other planes,
19:16its take-offs and its landings are also quieter.
19:19Now, there's only one problem with all of this.
19:21The 787 hasn't actually ever been on a runway.
19:25It hasn't had a single test flight.
19:28Well, Boeing had better get it right about the 787, because it's bet the company's future on it.
19:36By 2007, when Boeing unveiled a prototype of the 787 at its Everett assembly factory,
19:43the Dreamliner had become the fastest-selling wide-body airliner in history,
19:47with airlines putting in more than 600 orders.
19:51As well as lighter weight construction, with 50% of the aircraft made from composite material,
19:57the 787 features bleedless turbofans and an active gust alleviation system.
20:03The aeroplane can also operate with either Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines or General Electric Gen X.
20:11Boeing has released many futuristic images featuring interiors created by some of the world's top designers.
20:18The emphasis is on space and light, with the first-class lounge and bar looking more like the lobby of
20:23a five-star hotel than an aircraft.
20:26Proposed configurations include a restaurant-style table in business class.
20:31The emphasis on luxury has made Middle Eastern airlines such as Etihad eager launch customers.
20:36However, multiple delays have bedeviled the project.
20:40The company was originally scheduled to deliver its first aeroplane to all Nippon Airways in early 2009.
20:47However, as of mid-2009, the jet had yet to make its maiden flight.
20:53Boeing has been tight-lipped on reasons for the hold-up, but they are believed to include problems with assembling
20:59the parts.
21:00Boeing changed its processes to give subcontractors greater responsibility for assembling systems.
21:07This decentralization of construction streamlined the process, but difficulties have arisen when contractors have been unable to obtain all the
21:14parts they need.
21:16However, Boeing is still upbeat about its progress.
21:20There is risk associated with any new aeroplane program at this stage.
21:24We still remain confident that this new plan is achievable and we are all aligned to make it happen.
21:33So, with the delivery date of the first Dreamliner pushed back to early 2010, the aviation world will have to
21:40wait a little longer to see another dream take to the skies.
21:45Meanwhile, the rapid growth in airline travel is causing concern among environmentalists.
21:51Both Airbus and Boeing have trumpeted the green credentials of their new aircraft, but Richard Dyer from Friends of the
21:58Earth says the reputed fuel savings might just not be enough.
22:02We've got to put this in perspective. We're going to see aviation growth from Boeing's own prediction to something like
22:075% a year.
22:08So the savings this plane is going to make in carbon dioxide emissions are going to be wiped out in
22:12just four years.
22:13And we've got a big problem if we're going to cut carbon dioxide emissions to tackle climate change.
22:17We need to do more than bring out a new plane like this every so often.
22:20And no less an aviation personage than Sir Richard Branson has also jumped on the green bandwagon.
22:27In 2006, the Virgin Group chairman announced he would invest 3 billion US dollars in renewable energy technologies in a
22:35joint venture with Boeing.
22:37Branson says the idea came about after the fuel bill for Virgin Atlantic grew by 300 million pounds over two
22:44years.
22:44He was optimistic that the plan would succeed.
22:48Boeing believed that working with Virgin Fuels that we can come up with the fuel that we'll be able to
22:55power a jet engine.
22:56Now, it's not guaranteed, but we're going to do our best to achieve that.
23:02Two years later, a Virgin Atlantic jumbo jet flew between London's Heathrow Airport and Amsterdam's Skip Hall using fuel derived
23:09from a mixture of Brazilian babasu nuts and coconuts.
23:14Some environmentalists labeled the flight a publicity stunt, but Branson said it showed the potential for the future.
23:20But he expects that future commercial flights will be fueled by feedstocks such as algae rather than nuts.
23:31But some air travelers are less concerned with the environmental impact of their travel than they are about the style
23:38in which they travel.
23:39At a German airline expo, manufacturers vied to present the most eye-catching, luxurious and downright decadent in aircraft interiors.
23:49From luxury seating pods lavishly decorated with a black and white paisley material to intimate private dining areas,
23:56every type of luxury cabin was on display at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.
24:04Comfy cabins displayed beds and other features designed to make passengers' journeys as relaxing as possible.
24:11A first-class ticket will ensure a first-class sleep on this aircraft cabin created by Avio Interiors for the
24:18Air India B777.
24:23Another cabin allows the passenger to achieve the perfect seating position.
24:27The seats can be manipulated into a number of positions using an electronic tablet.
24:32And when you want to retreat from it all, sliding doors and tinted windows give optimum privacy.
24:39Doug Rasmussen, vice president and general manager of BE Aerospace, says the increase in long-haul flights has resulted in
24:47a demand for luxury travel.
24:51What we see happening in the marketplace today is that you have very long flights, 12, 13, 14, 15 hours.
24:58And when you have those type of flights, and many times those flights are being people flying them or going
25:04for business purposes,
25:06they want to be able to get a good night's sleep and work in privacy.
25:10And then there's also just wealthy individuals who have very high expectations in terms of how comfortable they'll be in
25:21their in-flight experience.
25:24And it's these high-wealth individuals who make up a vital component of the airline industry.
25:30Constantly on the lookout for top-end travel, money is no object, and the airlines are keen to deliver everything
25:37they expect.
25:38From widescreen movie screens to built-in computers, business travelers and the world's richest jet-setters can find a home
25:46away from home on the latest jets.
25:51German airline Lufthansa also showed off the latest in child restraint technology, the AeroKid, customized child seats designed to keep
26:00infants safely anchored in their seats in the event of turbulence or a rough landing.
26:05Similar to a car seat, the capsules face backwards and even feature a friendly cartoon design to keep the child's
26:12focus.
26:15Lufthansa has also been examining ways of integrating MP3 players with in-flight entertainment systems.
26:21Its iPod docking station allows the integration of a video or audio-capable iPod on all IFE systems.
26:29We're taking an approach that's a little bit different than what people are doing today.
26:34We're looking forward to an IP-enabled aircraft, whereby instead of having a mini-pico cell sight on the aircraft,
26:45we're going to be looking at hotspot coverage and voice-over IP.
26:49But as well as the latest in airplanes, the expo featured the traditional workhorse of the skies, the 747 jumbo
26:57jet, proving its reign is not over just yet.
27:00The double-decker still commands attention with its spacious interiors and split-level cabins.
27:09While Airbus and Boeing have kept the Superjet focus on Western Europe and the United States, Russia has also been
27:16developing its own variant, the Sukhoi Superjet 100.
27:21Smaller than its Western counterparts, with a 75- to 95-seat capacity, the Superjet 100 is aimed at the
27:28regional market and will compete against the Embraer E-Jet and Bombardier CRJ.
27:34Although deliveries were scheduled to begin in late 2008, the program has been delayed by about a year.
27:41But it's successfully completed its maiden flight in May 2008, and the first two aircraft of its type have since
27:48clopped up more than 90 flights, totalling 300 hours, with the engines accumulating 2,300 hours in flight and ground
27:56tests.
27:57Already Malev Hungarian Airlines has said it will buy 30 Superjets worth a billion dollars.
28:03Armenian Armevia and Aeroflot have also placed substantial orders.
28:11This aircraft is being created in close cooperation with international partners.
28:18This partnership started from the early stages of the project, when a specific idea for the role of the aircraft
28:24was determined.
28:27So the challenge was to create a quality aircraft for the world market.
28:34Sukhoi is confident that the Superjet will fill its niche market well.
28:42It can be used over distances of 2,000 kilometres and 4,000 kilometres.
28:50And there are a lot of such long routes in Russia, as well as in America and Europe.
28:55So there is a very wide spectrum.
28:58Comfort for the passengers, width of the seats, width of the aisles.
29:02All these characteristics match those of commercial planes in the same category, produced by Boeing and Airbus.
29:10So the passengers who fly in other commercial planes and then board ours will not feel any difference.
29:18As airline travel continues to grow apace, so does the demand for landing slots at the world's airports.
29:25As predicted two decades ago in a report by Britain's Civil Aviation Authority,
29:30smaller airports are coming into their own, picking up business that can't be accommodated by the bigger terminals.
29:37London's city airport formed part of a wholesale redevelopment of a neglected area, but in the early years growth was
29:43slow.
29:44In those days we would handle around 150,000 to 200,000 passengers a year, and we now handle that
29:50sort of number in a month,
29:51which has obviously made life rather more interesting for us.
29:55It could be argued the early days of the airport, it was a bit of a sleepy hollow.
29:58But that was before this part of London developed in the way that we've seen it develop in the years
30:04since, perhaps, 92, 93.
30:07And we're now in a very thrusting, dynamic, exciting part of London.
30:11The tiny airport is the smallest of five airports serving England's capital, and it's the only one sited within its
30:17boundaries.
30:19We serve a niche market of Europe, primarily the East Sea and Switzerland.
30:26Some people might say that's a small market.
30:28Well, that small market's got 350 million people living in it, so we thought that might do for us.
30:33The airport's customers particularly like the convenience of being so close to the city centre.
30:39It's good, it's just that it's much easier to get to here than obviously taking a train or taking a
30:43taxi all the way out of Heathrow or Gatwick.
30:45So it's very close, so we're in Le Havre and then here, where I spent just some days, holidays, and
30:50the Bertrandier.
30:55At London's Gatwick Airport, you can now walk over moving aeroplanes following construction of the world's biggest passenger air bridge.
31:04It's nearly 200 metres long and over 32 metres high, high enough for a Boeing 747-400 to pass underneath.
31:12The only other bridge like this is at Denver International Airport in Colorado, USA.
31:18Today, Gatwick handles about 30 million passengers, but by 2011, 2012, we'll handle 40 million.
31:25We've spent £100 million on this bridge and the new pier, and what it means is that passengers will now
31:31be able to go from the departure lounge straight to the gates.
31:35Last year, 3.5 million passengers had to be bussed, and they had to brave the elements, so it's very
31:40important in terms of customer service.
31:41The air bridge was constructed off-site, nearby. Moving the 2,500-tonne structure into position was a logistical challenge
31:49that took several days and nights.
31:52The hardest part was putting together the bridge and its vast Y-shaped pylons, which employ innovative large-scale pins
32:00as connection points.
32:01The makers saved time on the project by using a 3D element space frame software program to identify the best
32:09structural solution.
32:10To build such a massive structure and then move it and then erect it here on site to millimetre accuracy
32:17from an engineering perspective is difficult,
32:20given that we know that the bridge for every change in degree centigrade that we have moves a millimetre and
32:26a half.
32:27So we have to take those sorts of things into account.
32:30The result is a curved upper section that gives the structural depth needed to make a bridge of this span
32:36stand up.
32:39Architecturally, the key things for us were making this project, making the finished structure look slender.
32:45We didn't want something that looked heavy. We wanted something that looked light, with nice lines,
32:50and that would stand out as a very sort of positive icon for the airport.
32:56More than three million passengers crossed the bridge in its first year, replacing over 50,000 bus journeys across the
33:03tarmac, reducing fuel emissions and ground noise on the airfield.
33:08Not to be outdone, London's Heathrow Airport has opened another terminal to cope with ever-increasing demand.
33:15Terminal 5 is the cornerstone of the airport's revival plan and is designed to handle up to 30 million passengers
33:22per year and alleviate congestion at Heathrow's other terminals,
33:26all of which are slated for refurbishment or replacement in the coming years.
33:32Queen Elizabeth the second opened the new terminal, touring the new facility under heavy security, less than 24 hours after
33:39a man with a backpack scaled the Heathrow fence and ran onto an active runway, briefly impairing flight operations.
33:46But it was business as usual the following day.
33:51I'm sure that many millions of travellers will have reason to be appreciative of the thought and care that has
33:59gone into the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of this significant new terminal.
34:07It provides an encouraging illustration of what can be achieved through working in partnership.
34:16And it says a good deal about how the essential considerations of passenger comfort, effective security and quality of service
34:26can be combined with the ever more important requirement of environmental responsibility.
34:35The monarch's decision to open Terminal 5 personally, just as she opened the airport's first passenger terminal in 1955, reflects
34:44the importance of the new building,
34:46which officials believe will reverse the airport's reputation as a rundown, overcrowded facility.
34:56Another airport for the modern age is Thailand's Suvanabhumi Airport, located 30 kilometres east of central Bangkok.
35:05It has been variously described as modern, steelish and even beautiful.
35:11The new international airport houses one of the largest terminals in the world, boasting the latest aviation technology.
35:18Touted as a key Asian air hub, it is expected to accommodate as many as 45 million passengers a year.
35:27One frequent traveller says the buildings are lovely.
35:32Aesthetically, it's beautiful. It's also got very nice, clean lines.
35:39Typically German, I would say, right, yeah, okay?
35:42But yet, it has quite soft spots.
35:46As you can see from some of the colour lights that they have, you know, what they call set up
35:52in some of the shopping areas.
35:54Yeah, I think that is a very nice soft match.
36:00The airport control tower has attracted lots of attention, as it is said to be the highest in the world,
36:06standing at 132 metres.
36:24One night's facing Forest State is quite too dramatic.
36:25They arelichty, it has konnte me close and do that, but it's a great work that stood out publicly and
36:30stayed towards Ku Milky Hills.
36:31Thanks, V.V.
36:31Vice President of Air Traffic Service Bureau Preacher Preidam says the tower gives an excellent
36:36overview of everything going on at the airport.
36:40When we want to look around the airport, of course the airport is the big area.
36:48When we have the tower so high, we can look around and we can see everything move in the
37:00airport that is done, I think is a good excellent for the visibility throughout the area.
37:07The new airport will take over many commercial flights from the now aging and overcrowded Don
37:12Muang Airport, which will only cater for domestic flights.
37:17The airport also boasts up-to-the-minute security systems.
37:20It is fitted with 26 CTX 9000 explosive detection machines, which are to be used for baggage
37:27screening.
37:29We have, I think, the first biggest lot of CTX operating in this airport.
37:39So this is still, I mean, the concern of the passengers will be suppressed by introducing
37:50high technology to help the security measure.
37:59Since the airplane hijacks that led to the destruction of New York's World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, security
38:07has become one of the key issues facing aviation businesses.
38:12What is clear to all of us is that we face a persistent and very real threat across Europe.
38:21It is a threat which we face here in Britain as individuals, as communities and as a nation.
38:27But it is not unique to the United Kingdom.
38:32It affects us all across the whole of the European Union.
38:36And my colleagues know that their citizens face the threat just as we do here in the UK.
38:43And today, I think the fact that here symbolised our keenness to sand together in the face of that threat.
38:54Britain has been trialling fingerprint technology in an effort to weed out those who might have suspect documentation.
39:02I think it is a big step forward for the traveller. We are very excited by this.
39:06Because once that information is captured, effectively you can pass through the airport by just having your fingerprint scanned.
39:12You know, the process that you see behind me has been largely unchanged for decades.
39:16People having to stand in queues and to show a paper-based document, i.e. a passport.
39:22What this is, is quite a significant step forward where it allows that biometric read, the fingerprint,
39:28in order to be able to get past all of that normal process.
39:31So I think it will see a significant reduction in queuing.
39:34I think it will give a significant improvement in customer service.
39:37But also, in terms of national security, this is a far more robust process.
39:43Every year, 68 million passengers pass through London's Heathrow, making it one of the busiest airports in the world.
39:52The system links up information from the passport to the fingerprint of the individual.
39:57This is then processed onto a card that becomes an e-ticket that can be used to access secure travelling
40:04areas of the airport.
40:05It was tested by UK Immigration Minister Liam Byrne, who welcomed its introduction.
40:12This is important because we think biometrics have got a massive role to play in helping keep our border secure
40:17in the future.
40:18Last year, we had about 200 million passenger movements in and out of the UK.
40:23And if we're to make our border secure in a world of mass movement, we need biometric technology.
40:27So next week, we're announcing plans for how we're going to take ID cards forward.
40:31And making it easier to travel and making our border secure will be a big part of those plans.
40:36He also feels it shows how new technology can be used against terrorism and illegal immigration.
40:42Sometimes when we talk about biometric technology, people sort of think we're talking about flights of fancy.
40:48Actually, we're not. The technology is working today.
40:50And this is a good example of how it can actually make people's lives easier when they're coming to travel
40:55too.
40:57Across the channel at Amsterdam's Skip Hall Airport, the latest security technology promises to cut queues and protect passengers.
41:10The bustling airport handles about 160,000 passengers per day at peak times and is Europe's fourth busiest hub.
41:22To step up its security and efficiency, airport officials installed a new identification system that verifies the identity of passengers
41:30by scanning the iris.
41:32With the new system, the Dutch airport has become the first airport in the world to use iris recognition for
41:38border passing.
41:39The system developed by Skip Hall and named Previum is considered foolproof because the human iris, the coloured ring around
41:47the pupil, is unique even among identical twins.
41:51Compared to other forms of biometric identification such as finger or hand print, the iris scan is the most reliable
41:59because the eye structure hardly ever changes, while a small wound on the finger could already hamper recognition.
42:06It will improve very much safety because you will have a full check via the iris on the chip and
42:13that implies it is a full check whether somebody has a valid passport.
42:16Then it is very speedy because you see here a line of passengers, they of course don't have yet a
42:23card like this because it's the first day of the introduction.
42:25But in the future, you can pass the border very quickly by using this card.
42:31Located next to the conventional custom control, Previum will be used on a voluntary basis to start with.
42:37To take advantage of this automatic border check, passengers must have their iris scanned and details stored in a credit
42:44card sized smart card that they carry along.
42:48Dutch Justice Minister Benck Kortels was the first person to register for a Previum smart card and go through the
42:54border passage.
43:00In an effort to reduce passenger waiting times in the terminal building and increase safety, the airport has another check
43:07designed to speed up the security process and protect passengers.
43:15The airport is the first to regularly use new scanning technology to help find metals and explosives hidden under clothing.
43:23Passengers step into the cabin for three seconds and their body is scanned 360 degrees.
43:30Security staff can view an image of their body underneath their clothes and see anything hidden about their person.
43:39It's a very friendly facility for passengers. They are not searched by hands and are not exposed to radiation.
43:47The passengers will spend only three seconds in the cabin, where his or her body will be scanned 360 degrees.
43:56And Rutten says the technology can detect mobile phones, fluids and finally explosives at the same time.
44:04The security scan system, which uses radio waves to display head-to-toe images of people, is also being used
44:12by other airports on a trial basis.
44:15Going through the scanner takes about three seconds, allowing users to avoid metal detectors or body searches.
44:22For privacy, the digital images are viewed by security personnel in another room and deleted after they are viewed.
44:29As an extra privacy precaution, the passenger's head is made invisible.
44:36We take extra care to protect people's privacy. The scanned image provides only body contours. And moreover, the face of
44:46the scanned person is electronically covered.
44:50The security officers behind the scanner do not have eye contact with the scanned person.
45:00But in the world of 21st century aviation, security is not the only consideration at the world's busiest airports.
45:08At Changi Airport in Singapore, a free game show, complete with a gregarious host, brightly lit stage, special player seats
45:17equipped with handheld consoles and cash prizes, keeps passengers happy while they wait for their connections.
45:24The airport, which already boasts a swimming pool and movie theater, has been keeping passengers riveted to the departure lounge
45:31with the world's first airport game show.
45:35Passengers are asked to fill in forms to sign up to play in the game show, and the enthusiasm is
45:40high.
45:41The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore spent 700,000 US dollars developing the What's Your Range game from scratch.
45:48The game attracted 17,000 participants in its first month of operation.
45:54With more than 350 flights arriving and departing every day, Changi Airport is one of Asia's major hubs.
46:03Fusek Mi, in charge of customer relations for the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, says the game was conceived primarily
46:10as entertainment for passengers.
46:13Changi Airport is a major transfer hub. We have more than 30% of travelers spending more than two to
46:20four hours at the airport.
46:21This, besides giving them a chance to shop and actually use our facilities, we thought that having this event, this
46:28activity would actually help entertain them.
46:31And the feedback has shown that they really do enjoy themselves.
46:34There are many people who actually check in early to come to the airport to actually play this game.
46:43Participants are given ten general knowledge questions during a 25-minute game.
46:48Questions to tickle-tired travelers include how many characters are there in the English alphabet?
46:53In a triples game of lawn bowls, how long does a game last?
46:56How many bags of wool did Baba Black Sheep give away?
47:01Travelers give the game their stamp of approval.
47:04It's great. It's a great way to kill the time. You don't pay anything.
47:07The worst thing that can happen is you can walk all the way with a lot of money.
47:12Up to 50 contestants punch in their range of answers to each question
47:16and stand to fly off with more than $1,000 in airport shopping vouchers.
47:22Travelers can take part in the 12 games played every day after they have made a purchase at any airport
47:27shop.
47:28As soon as one game show is over, the next round of passengers line up to try their luck at
47:33What's Your Range.
47:34And so far, none are reported to have missed their flights.
47:42Time is up.
47:48Surprise, surprise.
47:49Surprise, surprise. Congratulations.
47:52What's your name now?
47:53What 30?
47:55Ten points.
48:01Ten points.
48:03For a round table.
48:06Recent immigrant to Australia, Margarita Pavlova won $200 Singapore dollars while playing to pass the time.
48:14It's interesting and I'm not good in numbers, so I'm surprised.
48:19Right. So you've won so much money. What are you going to do with the money?
48:22To buy some presents for my kid and my husband. To myself, maybe.
48:26To buy some money.
48:28At the Czech Republic's Rosin Airport, passengers have been treated to entertainment of a different kind.
48:33One local couple won a competition to hold their wedding at the airport.
48:39we do like flying always have life so airport was a chance to get together stay together
48:50because it was the place where we swapped the suitcases and again we never saw each
49:01other for months so that's why Robert Kruzka and Miloslava Kruzkova met four years ago but have
49:09spent much of their time separated by travel so when they saw the competition run by the airport
49:15at easyjet it was an easy choice to enter they beat 120 competitors who had to state their reasons for
49:21wanting an airport wedding it was their fondness for travel and frequent separation that made the
49:27jury pick them as winners their wedding at North 2 terminal grabbed the attention of many travelers
49:37but the Kruzka couple really enjoyed it this is it does that actually prokazely look she goes on
49:43a show of stavu I am možné yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
49:51yeah yeah
49:51I know seven wolves have all online
49:58whatever yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah haha
50:09do be careful and definitely
50:11don't know
50:13don't know
50:14do it
50:14you
50:19promise
50:20why
50:31Friends, family and many strangers watched on with happiness
50:34as the couple tied them off.
50:38It was certainly a moment to treasure
50:40and not the usual sight you see at the airport.
50:44The couple were a little overwhelmed with the attention.
50:48It's a lot of emotions you can't describe easily
50:50and you just have to live it out.
50:52It's too much happening in one moment.
51:01Already the wedding has motivated a number of people
51:04to ask about having their wedding at the airport.
51:08The cruise guys later left for their honeymoon
51:11to Milan, Paris, Barcelona and London.
51:15How else but by aeroplane.
51:21How else but by aeroplane.
51:23How else but by aeroplane.
51:27How else but by aeroplane.
51:29How else but by aeroplane.
51:29How else but by aeroplane.
51:31How else but by aeroplane.
51:33How else but by aeroplane.
51:34How else but by aeroplane.
51:37How else but by aeroplane.
51:38How else but by aeroplane.
51:38How else but by aeroplane.
51:39How else but by aeroplane.
51:39How else but by aeroplane.
51:40How else but by aeroplane.
51:40How else but by aeroplane.
51:41How else but by aeroplane.
51:42How else but by aeroplane.
51:42How else but by aeroplane.
51:43How else but by aeroplane.
51:44How else but by aeroplane.
51:47How else but by aeroplane.
51:543, 2, 1.
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