1.1 Commercial Service Aviation

• Air transport is an important enabler to achieving economic growth and development.
• Air transport facilitates integration into the global economy and provides vital connectivity on a national, regional, and international scale. 
• Air transport helps generate trade, promote tourism, and create employment opportunities.
• Air transport is the most recent mode of transport. It is the gift of the 20th century to the world. 
• The peculiar characteristic of air transport is that is does not need a specific surface track for its operations.
• Air transport has no physical barriers as in the case of other mode of transport. 
• Air transport is the fastest mode of transport. 
• The cost of air transport operation is very high and thus it is suitable for only rich passengers, mails. and light and costly cargo.
• Air transport has the following characteristics:

  Unbroken Journey

  Rapidity

  Expensive

  Special Preparations
• Air transport provides unbroken journey over land and sea. It is the fastest and quickest means of transport.
• Air transport had the highest speed among all the modes of transport.
• Air transport is the most expensive means of transport. There is huge investment in purchasing aeroplanes and constructing of aerodromes.
• Air transport requires special preparations like wheelers links, meteorological stations, flood lights, searchlights etc.
• Advantages of Air Transport:

  High Speed

  Comfortable and Quick Services

  No Investment in Construction of Track

  No Physical Barriers

  Easy Access

  Emergency Services

  Quick Clearance

  Most Suitable for Carrying Light Goods of High Value

  National Defense

  Space Exploration
• High Speed

  The supreme advantage of air transport is its high speed. It is the fastest mode of transport and thus it is the most suitable mean where time is an important factor.
• Comfortable and Quick Services

  It provides a regular, comfortable, efficient and quick service.
• No Investment in Construction of Track

  It does not require huge capital investment in the construction and maintenance of surface track.
• No Physical Barriers

  It follows the shortest and direct route as seas, mountains or forests do not come in the way of air transport.
• Easy Access

  Air transport can be used to carry goods and people to the areas which are not accessible by other means of transport.
• Emergency Services

  It can operate even when all other means of transport cannot be operated due to the floods or other natural calamities. Thus, at that time, it is the only mode of transport which can be employed to do the relief work and provide the essential commodities of life.
• Quick Clearance

  In air transport, custom formalities can be very quickly complied with and thus it avoids delay in obtaining clearance.
• Most Suitable for Carrying Light Goods of High Value

  It is most suitable for carrying goods of perishable nature which require quick delivery and light goods of high value such as diamonds, bullion etc. over long distances.
• National Defense

  Air transport plays a very important role in the defense of a country. Modern wars have been fought mainly by aeroplanes. It has upper hand in destroying the enemy in a very short period of time. It also supports over wings of defense of a country.
• Space Exploration

  Air transport has helped the world in the exploration of space.
• Disadvantages of Air Transport:

  Very Costly

  Small Carrying Capacity

  Uncertain and Unreliable

  Breakdowns and Accidents

  Large Investment

  Specialized Skill

  Unsuitable for Cheap and Bulky Goods

  Legal Restrictions
• Very Costly

  It is the costliest means of transport. The fares of air transport are so high that it is beyond the reach of the common man.
• Small Carrying Capacity

  Its carrying capacity is very small and hence it is not suitable to carry cheap and bulky goods.
• Uncertain and Unreliable

  Air transport is uncertain and unreliable as it is controlled to a great extent by weather conditions. Unfavourable weather such as fog, snow or heavy rain etc. may cause cancellation of scheduled flights and suspension of air service.
• Breakdowns and Accidents

  The chances of breakdowns and accidents are high as compared to other modes of transport. Hence, it involves comparatively greater risk.
• Large Investment

  It requires a large amount of capital investment in the construction and maintenance of aeroplanes. Further, very trained and skilled persons are required for operating air service.
• Specialized Skill

  Air transport requires a specialized skill and high degree of training for its operation.
• Unsuitable for Cheap and Bulky Goods

  Air transport is unsuitable for carrying cheap, bulky and heavy goods because of its limited capacity and high cost.
• Legal Restrictions

  There are many legal restrictions imposed by various countries in the interest of their own national unity and peace.
• Types of Air Transport

  Aeroplanes

  Helicopters

  Hot air balloons

  Blimps

  Gliders
• The air transport system consists of three main components: airports, ATC (air traffic control) system, and airlines. The airports accommodate the airline aircraft at the beginning and end of their flights between them, serving the passengers and freight cargo demand.