[ad_1]
This gives a whole new meaning to the term cabin fever.
The Australian company Qantas is preparing to break the record for the longest flight in the world, with a 19-hour non-stop trip between the Big Apple and Sydney.
The airline announced Thursday that it would perform three test flights later this year on two new routes – London to Sydney and New York to Sydney – to see if the human body could stand to be as long in the air.
Aviation experts, however, warned that it would not be a great experience and that roads would be targeted by business travelers saving time and money.
"You do not sit for 20 hours, you do not sleep for 20 hours either. It's inconceivable, "said The Post Bjorn Fehrm, aeronautical analyst for Leeham News.
"You do not do it because it's a great experience, you do it because you save time," he said.
A team of scientists on board will monitor the effect of very long-haul flights on 40 human guinea pigs composed of crews and passengers, measuring their levels of melatonin, their brain activity, their body clock and their sleep patterns.
The longest flight in the world is currently provided between Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey, and Singapore, at 18 hours 45 minutes.
Researchers will also examine the impact of sleep patterns, food and beverage consumption, lighting and in-flight entertainment on the clock and the health of passengers.
Fehrm, a former fighter pilot of the Swedish Air Force, said that direct flights cost on average 20% more than those making a stopover.
He added that very long-haul flights have multiplied in recent years, as they were a prestige element for airlines and had little influence on their results.
Fehrm said that Qantas should create new spaces to allow people to stretch, such as bars or dining rooms, to combat related health problems such as deep vein thrombosis.
"How can you make it nice to sit in the same place for 20 hours? He said.
"If you sit down like that – especially in the upscale economy that does not have flat seats – blood can be deposited in the lower part of your body, so they'd better have places where people can walk and move. "
The airline said it would decide later this year whether it will start operating the routes regularly, citing obstacles such as employee unions and regulatory approvals.
This will be the first time that a commercial airline is flying non-stop from New York to Australia, according to Qantas.
Aviation fanatics who would like to get their hands on a ticket will be disappointed – Qantas said it would use employees on test flights and that no place would be sold.
[ad_2]
Source link