2007年VOA标准英语-Airlines Looking to Lessen Environmental Impact

By Brian Padden
Paris
21 June 2007
 

The airline industry has long sought to develop new technology to offset¹ the rising cost of fuel, but the industry also has looked to make flying more energy efficient.  This year at the Paris Air Show many companies are promoting the environmental benefits of their products.  VOA's Brian Padden reports on how small innovations are making a big difference.  

Emerging air travel technologies are environmentally friendly

The Aircraft industry has invested years and billions of dollars to make their engines more fuel efficient.  Here at the Paris Air Show new energy saving aircraft engine designs, materials and innovative² components³ are all on display.  This year the companies are also stressing the environmental benefits of their products. 

Engine Alliance makes the engine for the new Airbus A380.  The engine uses 10 percent less fuel than the last generation of wide-body jets. 

 

Engine Alliance's Mary Ellen Jones says better fuel performance is also good for the environment. 

"It also means better environmental performance because lower fuel burn means lower greenhouse gas emissions," says Jones.

Saqib Mahmood works for a company called Flowmaster which produces electronic circuitry to optimize⁴ fuel intake⁵.   He says environmental concerns have increased industry interest in his product. 

"We've been working in collaboration⁶ with companies like Airbus that use us for their fuel systems,” says Mahmood.  “We are now working with Boeing."

Parker Aerospace⁷ produces fuel nozzles that create more energy with less fuel burn.  Vice President Mark Czaja says the company is also currently developing alternative fuel technology for aircrafts, such as hydrogen fuel cells and ethanol fuel pumps.  

"Today alternative fuels don't provide the same power density⁸ or energy density that the kerosene⁹ fuels in use today have,” explains Czaja.  “But we expect there to be progress in this area, and I expect that one day we will see airplanes flying with the use of alternate fuels."

The airline industry hopes these and other innovations will make flying more environmentally friendly.

1 offset   

n.分支，补偿；v.抵消，补偿

参考例句：

• Their wage increases would be offset by higher prices.他们增加的工资会被物价上涨所抵消。
• He put up his prices to offset the increased cost of materials.他提高了售价以补偿材料成本的增加。

2 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

3 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

4 optimize   

v.使优化 [=optimise]

参考例句：

• We should optimize the composition of the Standing Committees.优化人大常委会组成人员的结构。
• We should optimize our import mix and focus on bringing in advanced technology and key equipment.优化进口结构，着重引进先进技术和关键设备。

5 intake   

n.吸入，纳入；进气口，入口

参考例句：

• Reduce your salt intake.减少盐的摄入量。
• There was a horrified intake of breath from every child.所有的孩子都害怕地倒抽了一口凉气。

6 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

7 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

8 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

9 kerosene   

n.(kerosine)煤油，火油

参考例句：

• It is like putting out a fire with kerosene.这就像用煤油灭火。
• Instead of electricity,there were kerosene lanterns.没有电，有煤油灯。