In recent years, there has been a big increase in air travel and many large airports have now reached the limit of the number of aircraft movements they can handle. The problem is made worse by the size of many major cities which prs the extension of existing airports. Any new airports to be built a long way from city centers will create communication problems and in many countries there simply isn’t enough land for such developments.
Now a new proposal has been put forward which would help to relieve the congestion (拥挤), as far as short flights are concerned. This involves the use of smaller aircraft, carrying about 50 passengers, which only require a short take - off or landing area and which make comparatively little noise because they are propeller -driven (螺旋桨推进). Such aircraft could operate much nearer city centers, say, on disused industrial sites, and give a good service to businessmen and other travelers who are going between centers, which are relatively close, such as European capitals.
The main problem remaining is the question of noise. There has been so much publicity in recent years regarding the high level of noise near airports, that any government can expect to find considerable resistance to building new airports in towns, even though these short -range small planes are relatively quiet. The fact remains that increasing numbers of people want to travel by air and will accept somewhat slower flights if they can have the convenience of an airport near the city center. In the end. it’s a question of compromise between the travelers and the local inhabitants.
Recently, what has happened to the airports due to the increase of air travel