What is Aviation

Aviation is the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. Aircraft includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as hot air balloons and airships.

Aviation began in the 18th century with the development of the hot air balloon, an apparatus capable of atmospheric displacement through buoyancy. Some of the most significant advancements in aviation technology came with the controlled gliding flying of Otto Lilienthal in 1896; then a large step in significance came with the construction of the first powered airplane by the Wright brothers in the early 1900s. Since that time, aviation has been technologically revolutionized by the introduction of the jet which permitted a major form of transport throughout the world.

Potent threat facing the aviation industry. 

Steps have been taken to heighten security in the aviation industry. Security systems were first implemented in airports on a large scale in the 1970s after cases of commercial aircraft hijackings became common (Harris 2002). This involves usage of metal detectors to check luggage and passengers, scanning of passengers with metal detection wands, physical checks on luggage, interrogation of suspicious passengers and strict verification of identification documents. To some extent, these measures have succeeded in reducing the levels of insecurity that existed in the aviation industry. However, criminals always find other ways to defeat the system, as is evident in the September 11.

Credit: Alex Prince

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