Aviation knits the United States together, improves the quality of Americans' lives, and helps to enhance national security. Yet the explosive growth of aviation over the last several decades has brought with it a set of pressing challenges, which include increasing congestion within the nation's airspace system and the increased negative impact of aviation on the environment.
The increasing congestion of the nation's airspace system is the product of concurrent forces; while the increasingly global economy creates enormous numbers of jobs that require frequent long-distance travel, the decreasing cost of air travel and the introduction of low-cost airlines increases the number of non-business flights. Improperly managed congested air spaces result in restricted flight paths, delayed takeoffs and landings, and even a moderately heightened risk of aircraft collisions. However, ongoing research into aircraft clustering, airspace complexity and improved pilot-controller communication will lead to the development of new technologies to mitigate risk and expand airspace capacities.
Greenhouse gas emissions constitute the primary negative impact of aviation on the environment. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) investigators are working to develop satellite-based navigation systems that would allow for more direct routing of aircraft, which would in turn improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide output from planes. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the full implementation of such technology could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft by up to 12 percent by 2025.
A decrease in government funding for research on airspace congestion and greenhouse gas emissions generated by aircraft, however, is making it increasingly difficult to maintain research programs. Bringing research to maturity requires a greater level of investment than legislators have been willing to make. This needs to change. If promising technologies and operational concepts are not developed to a point where they can be applied to actual situations, the nation will never receive the full benefit of the significant investment devoted to the research conducted thus far.
One function of the final paragraph is to
A offer a specific reason why more funding is needed for research on airspace congestion and greenhouse gas emissions
B offer reasons why aviation is important to the United States and present problems associated with aviation
C offer specific solutions to the problems associated with aviation and explain why these solutions are important
D suggest an alternative method to develop technologies and operational concept and apply them to actual situations
E explain why airspace congestion is a pressing national problem in terms of both convenience and safety
The increasing congestion of the nation's airspace system is the product of concurrent forces; while the increasingly global economy creates enormous numbers of jobs that require frequent long-distance travel, the decreasing cost of air travel and the introduction of low-cost airlines increases the number of non-business flights. Improperly managed congested air spaces result in restricted flight paths, delayed takeoffs and landings, and even a moderately heightened risk of aircraft collisions. However, ongoing research into aircraft clustering, airspace complexity and improved pilot-controller communication will lead to the development of new technologies to mitigate risk and expand airspace capacities.
Greenhouse gas emissions constitute the primary negative impact of aviation on the environment. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) investigators are working to develop satellite-based navigation systems that would allow for more direct routing of aircraft, which would in turn improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide output from planes. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the full implementation of such technology could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aircraft by up to 12 percent by 2025.
A decrease in government funding for research on airspace congestion and greenhouse gas emissions generated by aircraft, however, is making it increasingly difficult to maintain research programs. Bringing research to maturity requires a greater level of investment than legislators have been willing to make. This needs to change. If promising technologies and operational concepts are not developed to a point where they can be applied to actual situations, the nation will never receive the full benefit of the significant investment devoted to the research conducted thus far.
One function of the final paragraph is to
A offer a specific reason why more funding is needed for research on airspace congestion and greenhouse gas emissions
B offer reasons why aviation is important to the United States and present problems associated with aviation
C offer specific solutions to the problems associated with aviation and explain why these solutions are important
D suggest an alternative method to develop technologies and operational concept and apply them to actual situations
E explain why airspace congestion is a pressing national problem in terms of both convenience and safety
A SMALL TOWN GUY
