Aeroplane is the fastest means of transport. When we have to go to far off j places quickly, we travel by an .aeroplane. Air travel begari-in India in 1920. It was under the private management. Some air travel companies were operating in the country, but it did not make much headway. It was in the year 1953 that the air travel companies were nationalized and made a corporation. Since then our country has made rapid progress in air transport.
In India air transport is managed by three organizations:
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Air India
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Indian Airlines Corporation
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Vayudoot
Air India operates flights to about 50 countries. It has Boeing 707 Jets and Boeing 747 Jumbo Jets. It operates from international airports at Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai and some other stations. It undertakes the international flights. Jumbo Jets are the fastest commercial planes in the world.
Indian Airlines :
Corporation organizes flights within the country. It links up most of the big cities in the country. It also takes up flights to our neighboring countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bangla Desh & Afghanistan. It has about 275 airplanes. It includes air buses and Boeing 737.
Vayudut :
This service has been started recently. It takes up domestic flights, connecting some 18 outlying stations and state capitals, with international airports. Its aircrafts are smaller in size and can carry a lesser number of passengers. Air travel is costly and is not as popular as the train or bus travel in our country. Helicopters are still smaller aircrafts. They can land and take off from helipads or open grounds. Most of the helicopters are owned by State Governments. Helicopters are used to drop food pockets and medicines to the victims of flood, diseases or other disasters. Helicopters are also used for rescue operations and for spraying insecticides on the crops. A helicopter can stay of one place in the air and is very useful in rescue operations.
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The people who travel by air have to buy their tickets in advance. On the day of the journey they go to the airport. Airport is the place where the airplanes land and take off. Air passengers are not allowed to carry heavy luggage. Each passenger is allowed to take only 20 kilogram of luggage free of charge. He is charged extra for the extra luggage. The luggage is placed in the lower half of the plane. Only small hand bags are allowed to be taken inside the cabin. When the airplane is about to start its journey, a movable stair-case is attached to the airplane. Announcement is made on the microphone informing the passengers of the particular flight. The passengers move to the airplane, climb the stair-case and go into the cabin of the plane. Inside the plain is just like a very big bus. The passengers take the seats allotted to them. The seats are very comfortable. These can be tilted back if some one likes to take rest. When all the passengers get seated, the stair-case is removed. The pilot starts the engines of the airplane. First it runs slowly on the runway. Then it goes faster and takes off into the air. This is called take off. Then if gains height and flies higher and higher. It can fly above the clouds.
There are air hostesses inside the airplane to look after the passengers’ comfort. The air hostesses serve tea, coffee, soft drinks and refreshments to the passengers. When it is the time to land, the air hostess requests the passengers to fasten their safety belts. Ail the passengers have to use safety belts during take off and landing of the plane. The airplane circles round the airport, it gradually slows down its speed and gently lands on the ground. This is called landing. When the plane stops, the stair-case is attached to the airplane, the door is opened and all the passengers get down. They walk to the airport lounge and collect their luggage.
Air transport is very important these days. It is the fastest means of transport. A flight from- Delhi to Mumbai takes about two hours, whereas the fastest train takes at least 18 hours. There are supersonic jets, which fly at a speed of 900 km. per hour, faster than the speed of the sound. Airplanes transport passengers, goods and mail. The mail from the major cities of India is sent by airplanes, it reaches its destination very fast.
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Air transport is specially important in war, famine, floods and other disasters. At the time of war aircrafts are used to bombard enemy targets. Airplanes carry arms, ammunition and soldiers to the forward areas in case of emergency. In case of floods and famines, food packets, medicines and clothes are dropped in the affected areas by airplanes and helicopters. People are also rescued from the marooned areas by helicopters and many lives are saved.
Air transport is very useful in the transportation of perishable articles like fruit, vegetables and fish. These articles can be transported quickly and do not go rotten.