Just a Flight Away

The 21st century is the century of making the world a harmonious global village. The United Nations recognises the link binding us to the cause which has made us just a flight away from each other.

Celebrating International Civil Aviation Day; Image Source: Public Domain

When the Wright Brothers embarked on making their dream of a flight in the air come true in 1903, they weren’t aware that in a short span even less than a century the world would dedicate a day to the network of what they attempted to do first!

The Convention on International Civil Aviation was signed by 54 countries in the year of 1994 to mark International Civil Aviation Day under the aegis of The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). From 1996 onwards, 7th December was declared by the United Nations General Assembly to bid an ode to aviation and the long journey of its services to humanity.

Since ancient times, flight in the air has always mesmerised humanity. The sky was no less than a canvas of wonder for humans, with the stars shining and meteorites showering in the night and the clouds and birds floating in their abode above.

Covering long distances through the means of waterways was amongst the first conventional methods to explore the boundaries of the planet, which made mankind realise the geographical expanse of the Earth.

The journey from the first flight to the setting up of a commercial network of flights has been a long yet the most innovative of all. The use of technology was only satisfying the pangs of war wagers, who would consume energies and technologies to initiate modern methods of warfare in the modern era. Along with the artillery sector aviation also witnessed great technological advancements.

The socio-economic conditions of the modern era made it high time to initiate the commercial usage of airways, as a medium to cross the oceans and bridge the continents.

It was initiated by the United Nations to generate awareness and gratitude to the men in services, who would travel across the world to transport us from one nook to another corner. The role of ICAO in advancing the nations to catch up with the rapid force of development, as recognised by the UN has led to the celebration of the day to reinforce new themes for conclaves.

With Agenda 2030 advancing towards the new era of sustainable development, countries across the world pledged to use clean fuel and leave less carbon foot behind. Aviation has served many causes, be it, rescue operations, conventions, connecting the people, or enabling global peace and prosperity. Museums of aircraft, the history of aviation and its relevance on human life might not have been the purpose of Wright Brothers when they undertook the experiments, to commence with their first flight.

But with time, as the means of communication witnessed progress it became easy for the enablers of peace, to revisit the idea of diminishing the borders of differences. As we all know, that when we say, “we’re just a call away”, we mean “we’re just a flight away”.