Exploring the Diverse World of Aircraft – Commercial Airplanes
Commercial airplanes play a role in our modern transportation system ferrying millions of passengers across the globe every day. There are types of commercial aircraft each designed with a specific purpose in mind. In this article we will explore some of the commonly encountered varieties.
Narrow Body:
Narrow body planes are the most prevalent type of commercial aircraft. They typically feature an aisle running through the center of the cabin and can accommodate anywhere from 100 to 200 passengers. These narrow body planes are primarily used for shorter and medium range flights, such as regional routes. Some known examples of narrow body planes include the Boeing 737 Airbus A320 and Embraer E Jet family.
Wide Body:
Wide body aircraft are larger than their narrow body counterparts. Boast two aisles down the middle of their cabins. With seating capacities ranging from 200 to 500 passengers these bodied planes are primarily employed for long haul journeys like transatlantic or transpacific flights. Popular wide body aircraft choices include the Boeing 777 Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Regional Jets:
Lastly we have jets which are smaller than narrow bodied planes, with seating capacities ranging from 50 to 100 passengers. They are commonly employed for short distance flights connecting cities and towns. The Bombardier CRJ and Embraer ERJ families are among the popular regional jets.
Turboprop Planes:
Turboprop aircraft utilize a combination of jet and propeller engines for power. They offer fuel efficiency compared to jet planes and can operate from shorter runways. Turboprops are mainly used for short distance flights to airports. The ATR 42 and Dash 8 families are widely recognized in this category.
Cargo planes:
Cargo planes specialize in transporting goods distinguishing themselves by their larger size and absence of passenger seating. Some known cargo aircraft include the Boeing 747 Airbus A330 200F and McDonnell Douglas MD 11F.
These examples represent just a portion of the diverse range of commercial aircraft available. The selection of an aircraft type for a flight depends on various factors such, as flight distance, passenger count and cargo volume.
Several other considerations come into play when determining the aircraft type for a given flight.
These factors vary depending on:
- The airline responsible, for the flight
- The airports size and layout
- The prevailing weather conditions
- The availability of aircraft
Hopefully this article has provided you with a glimpse into the various categories of commercial airplanes.