Coming up Next Airbus A 390

That’s right!  A380 has just made a head start and an overwhelming majority of the frequent and not-so-frequent fliers are yet to get the real taste of this innovative carrier. But what’s buzzing everywhere in the aviation industry is the news that Airbus has initiated preliminary studies for the design and manufacture of a 2600 capacity passenger carrier.

Still on the drawing board phase, the aircraft will have ten decks—seven for passengers, three for cargo and baggage, and is to be called “Airbus A 390”. Designed for long haul flights of over 20 hours, the proposed features on this airplane include six restaurants, three duty free shops, a lounge with a discothèque, two full sized movie theatres, a 14 lane bowling alley, a swimming pool with water slides, a wedding chapel, a fully functional medical clinic, and a 11,000 volume library.

The target market for this airplane is international long distance flights of over 9,000 nautical miles (about 16,600 kilometers). It will need six Rolls-Royce turbofan engines to power this flight, with each developing thrusts of over 340,000lb. Plus it will need a passenger load of around 1750 passengers to reach the break-even point for operating, meaning it must have 1750 passengers on board in order to fly. 

But what about the environment? A 390 looks more glitzy and fascinating, but who’s going to control emission levels? 

Trashed Mountains

Our quest to climb the highest mountains, the desire to be on top of the world and the firm determination to accomplish have enabled us to subdue the highest peaks. Those who achieved those feats were never turned off by the difficulties inherent. They’ve braved the most fearful snow storms, the widest crevices, and the coldest glaciers. Flags are seen fluttering over the vanquished mountains. But what next?

What’s concerning is that our love of adventure has reduced the foothills into mountains of trash. The most threatening part is that many of these mountains have been reduced to dumping grounds.

Take for instance, Mount Fuji, Japan. If you look down those graceful volcanic slopes, you’ll be shocked by the disposed microwave ovens, construction debris, broken office furniture, rusting refrigerators and tons of other urban waste.

According to members of Wakamura’s Fujisan Club, the club alone has  collected 187,000 pounds of illegally dumped garbage from the mountain’s slopes in 12 months through March.

This is one of the most potent symbols of the general environmental destruction wreaked by industrialization worldwide. Like Fuji, environmentalists believe that even a hostile mountain like Everest, which requires special gear for climbers,  has over 50 tons of trash on its slopes. 

It takes a lot of sweat to undo the damage which has already been done.  However, we don’t need much effortb to help prevent this mindless destruction of nature!