Aviation

What is aviation?

The term “aviation” can refer both to air locomotion by means of heavier-than-air devices and to the military corps that uses aviation for warfare.

What was the first engine in aviation?

On December 17, 1903, the Wright brothers tested a twin-propeller biplane called the Flyer. It was powered by a 12-hp, 90-kilo internal combustion engine designed and built by the brothers themselves. This moment has gone down in history as the first powered flight. On that occasion, they could only maintain the flight for a distance of 260 meters over 59 seconds, but it was the starting point of the conquest of the skies and one of the key moments in the history of aviation.

How is distance measured in aviation?

The unit of measurement most commonly used in aviation to determine distance is the nautical mile (NM); it’s defined as the length equivalent to one minute of the arc on the Earth’s Equator. One nautical mile is equal to 1852 meters.

What is civil aviation?

This is the generic name for air transport services, whether for people or goods, that are intended for public or private use.

At the state level, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (Dirección General de Aviación Civil, or DGAC) is the body through which Spain’s Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda designs strategy and directs aeronautical policy. It is also in charge of acting as a regulator in the air sector, within of the powers of the State’s General Administration.

What is military aviation?

Military aviation comprises the means — material as well as human — that make up a country’s air force. This entails the use of aircraft for military purposes, whether to attack the enemy or provide support for one’s own forces. It also covers everything related to attack and defense flights, reconnaissance and surveillance, transportation, rescue, and so on.

What is Digital Aviation?

This is the first means of communication specializing in aviation written in Spanish, where up-to-date information on aeronautics in all its facets can be found.

It has been providing relevant information about the sector’s situation since 2000, and it’s the leading communication method in Spain.

What benchmarks are there in the aviation sector in Spain?

Ferrovial Airports is one of the main transport infrastructure operators in the world. The company has the capacity to integrate all the activities involved in airport management, and it is one of the leading investors and private operators for airports globally. It has been part of the aviation industry since 1998: this means more than 20 years of experience in investment, development, and operation at 33 airports around the world.

As for sustainability, the primary objective on its roadmap, and part of its commitment in the fight against climate change, is to achieve full decarbonization by 2050. Both at Ferrovial and its airports, the carbon emissions resulting from operations are being reduced. The ultimate goal is to make business and leisure air travel increasingly sustainable.

What’s the global aviation outlook?

Civil aviation hasn’t seen any major changes in recent decades, but in recent years, the heavens have opened wider to us. Today, aircraft aspire to leave Earth’s atmosphere. Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX are at the forefront of spacecraft development; the competition seems as technical as it is personal.

In other news, the development of supersonic aircraft continues after apparently going through a period of stagnation due to technical impossibilities. However, what may be the most interesting developments in aviation have to do with research and development regarding lighter materials and less polluting fuels. The idea is to reduce the environmental impact of air travel, which takes the lead in terms of the most harmful activities for the environment.

Fun facts about aviation

•  The first war in which aircraft were used extensively in attacks, defense, and reconnaissance missions was in World War I.
• The use of hydrogen as a jet fuel offers the possibility of completely eliminating CO2 emissions during flights. This is presented as one of the main alternatives to traditional aviation kerosene, along with battery-powered electric motors and sustainable aviation fuels. However, it still has many challenges to overcome to be a viable option.
• Europe’s aviation sector has launched an ambitious plan to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050: Destination 2050 – A Route to Net Zero European Aviation.