How the Jet Engine Has Enabled Aircraft Manufacturers to Develop More Productive Airliners - Coursework Example

Abstract This particular brief is going to discuss how jet engine has revolutionized air travelling. We shall discuss how the jet engine has enabled aircraft manufacturers to develop bigger, faster, and more productive airliners. We are also going to review how jet technology has facilitates reduction of operating costs and air ticket prices. We shall also dwell on how the jet age saw the end of airline regulation by the federal government and how this particular move transformed the aviation sector. Introduction The airline industry has experienced various institutional innovations over the last 5 decades and some of these include yield management techniques, introduction of frequent flyer programs, and the adoption of hub and spoke networks. However, the most significant among these innovations was the advent of jet passenger airline during the 60’s. Just recently in the 90’s the airline industry has also witnessed another milestone when regional jet aircrafts have been introduced because efficient jet engines that are suitable for smaller aircrafts have been introduced. Regional aircrafts have provided attributes that did not exist with other long haul airlines, and this includes a relative small passenger capacity and they also come with a long range that can go up to 1500 miles. They also come with a superb cruising speed that can attain over 500 mph not mentioning passenger comfort levels (Flying Magazine, 1953). Literature review The advent of the jet engine has influenced design of the aircraft and the increased power to weigh ratios has dramatically improved on distance, time, and payload performances and as a result aircrafts are today exhibiting much better economic and military applications than ever before. One of the airlines that have directly benefited from such improvements are the civil and military transport airlines because achievement of mass transportations has been made possible on a larger scale that the piston technology could have achieved were it the mainstream technology being used in aircrafts today. The military has also dramatically benefited because their logistics have been enhanced and they are also experiencing new mobility that can be used tactically when conducting military operations. As a result there has been a surging demand for new aircrafts in order to satisfy the new market (Philip & Peter, 2006). In the 20’s and 30’s an aircraft was used by the rich and adventurous people mainly because of the fear of flying inside an aeroplane. Other deterrents included lack of facilities such as toilets, meals, and cabin crew members who could provide various services such as nursing the sick. The cabin system that used to exists those early days of the century were unpressurized and the interior of the plane was noisy, slow, and it was also not very comfortable. During this period of time the leisure travelling that took place was basically due to social and economic factors and this involved individuals with disposable incomes ad people who possessed propensity to go for foreign country holidays. When engines were introduced the worlds transport begun a new era when new technologies of power generation manufacturing and transport changed the way business is conducted by shrinking valuable time and space. During the advent of the jet engine several companies began producing planes that had a potential of delivering more than 5,000 miles. Airline companies begun ordering these jets and companies such as Boeing produced the 707 and also airlines such as Douglas DC-8 went into commercial production that same year. These airlines revolutionized cost and comfort associated with flying and they even came with lower maintenance costs. With such technologies airlines could manage flights at high altitudes that attracted passengers whom otherwise were wary of flying. Immediately two years thereafter when Boeing released their flagship 707 they accounted for 47% commercial passenger market in the US. Immediately afterwards Boeing Company even designed a much larger plane and Boeing responded with their 747 jumbo jets that could accommodate up to 524 passengers and this particular model can fly nonstop from New York to Hong Kong which is almost a third way of the globes diameter. This particular plane begun to replace other modes of transport such as trains and ocean lines. Since then air transport courtesy of jet engines has reduced the amount of time required to travel from point A to point B because certain experts consider time to be a critical factor because this very time can be used to do something else (Senguttuvan, 2006). However, with the advent of the jet engine all these changed considerably and small players emerged and this list included Boeing, Havilland comet, and the Douglas DC-8 that were capable of flying long range at high altitudes not mentioning smoothness. Today courtesy of the jet engine, an aircraft is used to transport individuals from one place to another. Most people are today using aircrafts to visit different places be it when going for a meeting, honeymoon, or even a holiday. This has been made possible by a combination of factors such as willingness, need, and desire in combination with convenience, access, and affordability derived from air travelling experience. In essence most individuals are using air transport to move from one place to another coz it is economical, time friendly, comfortable, and safe compared to other modes of transport Impact of jet engine on missiles, space, and Research and Development Jet production preceded missile production and even new professions came up such as the “tin benders” were converted into “machinists” and had jet engines not have been introduced into the market the automobile industry was already interested with developing missiles. This implies that jet engine introduction indirectly prepared the airline industry to venture into missile and space equipment production which today is a very important segment of aerospace company’s revenues. With the advent of the jet engine the aerospace industry in general also begun to get psychologically prepares for their research and development works. Before beginning commercial production of the jet engine, aerospace industry was relying on organizations such as NASA or Atomic Energy Commission for technical repairs. This was very difficult because even identifying talent to work with was a problem because 60% of aeronautical engineers, 40% of physics in America, and 20% of America’s civilian electrical and mechanical engineers worked in defence related organizations (John & George, 2012). Effect on Markets and Finances Even though the surge demand is now beginning to go down courtesy of high performance jet engines. Aircraft replacements are also being conducted at a much slower rate due to efficiency from these engines. Because fewer units are sold, jets are very expensive which implies that there is an increase in capital, there are also special equipments required to handle these jets and these very equipments are very costly. As a result there has been extended financial needs and risks that are now burdening the aerospace industry because of the efficient jet engine. Effect of engines on individual organizations There are various organizations that have taken advantage and capitalised on the advent of the jet engine. To begin with, equipment manufacturers began manufacturing products that were to be used in jet engine production and this involved suppliers who could supply different parts. With the boom in the business these part suppliers are today major players in the aviation sector. Conclusion We have seen how the advent of jet engine plays a key role in transportation. Before jet engines were introduced, air travelling was mainly a reserve for the rich because turbo prop planes had bigger engines, were noisy, uncomfortable, and could not carry lots of passengers making them commercially uneconomical. However, with the introduction of the jet engines today these planes are capable of carrying very many passengers, in a faster manner, and in a cost effective way. This has made the plane a cost effective mode of transportation whenever conducting business or travelling for leisure. With jet engines we have even seen no frills services such as those provided by Ryan air and Jet Blue airways, with such services we have even seen prices dropping to as low as $30 USD for a trip of around 300 miles, what a revolution courtesy of jet engines (OECD, 2010, p.100). References OECD (2010) Globalization, Transport, and the environment, OECD, 2010 John F. O’Connell (2012). Air transport in the 21st century, key strategic developments, SAGE Publishers. Senguttuvan (2006). Fundamentals of air travel Management, Chicago publishers. Phillip Bagwell, Peter Lyth (2006). Transport in Britain: From anal lock to gridlock. Read More