All language subtitles for City in the Sky - S-1 Ep. 1 _ Departure

NARRATOR: YOU'RE
HEADED FOR THE SKY.

MAYBE YOU'RE GOING
TO GO SEE FAMILY...

OR SETTING OFF
ON A BUSINESS TRIP.

BUT FROM THE MOMENT
YOU PULL UP TO THE AIRPORT,

YOU STEP INTO A COMPLEX WORLD
THAT YOU RARELY GET TO SEE...

MAN ON RADIO:
NORMAL AIR SPEED, AMERICAN 879.

[INDISTINCT]
5-2.

NARRATOR: BECAUSE GETTG YOU
OFF THE GROUND TAKES FAR MORE

THAN JUST A TICKET.

IT TAKES HUNDRED-MILLION-DOLLAR
HIDDEN RAILWAYS

TO GET YOUR LUGGE
TO THE PLANE,

ENGINEERS WORKING
ROUND THE CLOCK

TO MAKE SURE
YOUR FLIGHT'S AIRWORTHY...

AN ARMY OF CHEFS
TO PREPARE YOUR FOOD,

VAST INDUSTRIES
CONSTRUCTING THE JETS

THAT CARRY US AROUND THE WORLD,

AND ALL OF THIS HAPPENS

EVEN BEFORE THE WHEELS
LEAVE THE GROUND.

BUT ONCE YOU'RE AIRBORNE,

YOU'VE JOINED THE MILLION PEOPLE

WHO ARE FLYING AT ANY ONE TIME

AND WHO ARE UP THERE
RIGHT NOW.

YOU'VE BECOME PART
OF THE "CITY IN THE SKY."

THIS CITY STRADDLES NOT JUST
COUNTRIES, BUT CONTINENTS.

IT'S BUILT OUT OF
THE 100,000 FLIGHTS

THAT CRISSCROSS THE PLANET
EVERY SINGLE DAY.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE FEAT
OF ENGINEERING...

DEPENDENT UPON ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY AND GLOBAL NETWORKS,

A HIDDEN WORLD RARELY
GLIMPSED BY OUTSIDERS,

UNTIL NOW.

NARRATOR: IF YOU WANT TO VISIT
THE CITY IN THE SKY,

THE FIRST STEP INVOLVES
GETTING OFF THE GROUND.

NARRATOR: YOU KNOW THE DRILL...

ARRIVE AT CHECK-IN....

NARRATOR: TAG YOUR BAG...

PRINT YOUR BOARDING PASS...

AND HEAD TO SECURITY.

MADE IT THROUGH.

MAYBE DO A LITTLE SHOPPING.

TIME TO FIND THE GATE...

BOARD YOUR PLANE.

READY FOR TAKEOFF...

AND THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.

BUT IF YOU GO BACK
TO THE BEGINNING

AND LOOK AT EACH STEP
THAT GOT YOU HERE,

YOU'LL FIND THERE'S MUCH MORE
TO IT THAN MEETS THE EYE.

IT ALL STARTS WITH GETTING YOU

AND YOUR LUGGAGE
THROUGH THE AIRPORT.

BUT MODERN MEGA AIRPORTS
HAVE NOW GOTTEN SO BIG,

THAT'S NOT ALWAYS
AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS.

HARTSFIELD-JACKSON AIRPORT
IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA

IS THE BUSIEST OF THEM ALL.

IT'S WITHIN 3 HOURS' FLIGHT TIME

OF 80% OF THE U.S. POPULATION.

OVER A HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE
A YEAR MOVE THROUGH HERE.

ON THANKSGIVING,
PASSENGER NUMBERS SURGE

AS AROUND 300,000 PEOPLE
HURRY HOME

TO REUNITE WITH
THEIR LOVED ONES.

TO STOP THE TERMINALS
FROM CLOGGING UP,

THE AIRPORT NEEDS TO MAINTAIN
CONSTANT PASSENGER FLOW

FROM CHECK-IN
TO DEPARTURE GATE.

THE KEY TO KEEPING YOU
AND EVERYBODY ELSE MOVING

IS DESIGN.

AIRPORTS ARE PROBABLY
THE MOST ENGINEERED PLACES

WE ARE EVER LIKELY
TO SET FOOT IN.

ALTHOUGH WE DON'T NOTICE
MOST OF IT,

EVERYTHING FROM SIGNS,
WALKWAYS, SEATS,

AND CHECK-IN DESKS
HAVE BEEN DESIGNED

TO CONTROL PASSENGER MOVEMENTS.

AIRPORT DESIGN GURU
JIM HARDING HELP PLAN

THE LAYOUT OF ATLANTA'S
INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL.

JIM: WE HAVE
A SET OF VISUAL CUES

THAT NATURALLY LEAD
AND GUIDE YOU

THROUGH THE BIG OPEN SPACE,
AND IT'S A BIG PART OF

YOUR JOURNEY SEGMENT, CHECKING
IN, GETTING ON YOUR PLANE.

SO WHAT YOU HAVE HERE,
YOU HAVE LIGHTING

THAT GOES UP AND OVER AND DOWN.

YOU HAVE FLOORING
THAT PULLS YOU IN AND THROUGH,

THE TWO COME TOGETHER,
THEN POINT YOU TO THE PLANE

THAT YOU SEE THROUGH THE GLASS.

SO THIS DESIGN,
IT'S VERY CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT,

MAKING THAT CUSTOMER
EXPERIENCE EASY,

NATURAL, FLUID, INTUITIVE.

NARRATOR: BY INCORPORATING
DIRECTIONAL FLOORING

AND LIGHTING
INTO THE AIRPORT DESIGN,

THE SPACE ITSELF TELLS
THE PASSENGER WHERE TO GO,

WHILE THE SIGNS MERELY ASSIST.

IT MIGHT SEEM
COUNTERINTUITIVE,

BUT SIGNS CAN ACTUALLY
SLOW US DOWN.

YOU CAN'T RESIST STOPPING
TO READ THEM,

SO ATLANTA HAS AS FEW
AS POSSIBLE.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
THE ACTUAL SPEED

AT WHICH WE MOVE.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT OUR PERCEPTION.

THERE'NOTHING WORSE THAN
PICKING THE SLOW LINE

WHEN YOU'RE WAITING
TO GO THROUGH SECURITY.

IT CREATES TENSION
AND LINE ENVY,

AGITATING PASSENGERS.

THAT'S WHY MANY AIRPORTS
NOW USE "S"-SHAPED LINES,

ATLANTA INCLUDED.

SERPENTINE LINES HAVE NOW BEEN
PROVEN TO BE MUCH FASTER

FOR PEOPLE-PROCESSING
THAN MULTIPLE SINGLE-FILE LINES.

FOR THE PASSENGERS
THEY KEEP THINGS FAIR...

CREATING ONE ORDERED LINE,

SO NOBODY MOVES FASTER
THAN ANYBODY ELSE...

AND THAT MEANS WE'RE ALL
LESS STRESSED-OUT

BY THE TIME WE REACH
CHECK-IN DESK.

ONCE YOU'RE PAST CHECK-IN,

THROUGH SECURITY,
AND ON THE MOVE TO THE GATE,

ATLANTA HAS YET MORE
SUBTLE FEATURES

HELPING REGULATE
THE TSUNAMI OF PASSENGERS.

TAKE THE TRAVELATOR.

JIM: WELL, YOU MIGHT THINK
WE'RE GOING FASTER

BY BEING ON A TRAVELATOR,
BUT WE'RE REALLY NOT,

AT LEAST NOT WHEN WE'RE
STANDING STILL.

THERE ARE TWO REASONS WHY
YOU HAVE TRAVELATORS.

THE FIRST IS A MATTER
OF CONVENIENCE.

YOU HAVE LONG DISTANCES TO WALK
IN THE BIGGEST AIRPORT

IN THE WORLD, RIGHT?

SO, YOU KNOW , THE PERCEPTION IS,
BY GETTING ON AND OFF TRAVELATOR,

IT'S EASIER TO GET
FROM ONE POINT TO THE OTHER

WHILE YOUE SCHLEPPING ALL YOUR LUGGAGE

NARRATOR: TRAVELATORS CREATE
AN ORDERED HUMAN HIGHWAY,

WITH LANES ALL GOING
AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS.

THEY KEEP US MOVING
AND HELP PREVENT GRIDLOCK.

IN AN AIRPORT THIS SIZE,

ESSENTIAL.

AT 4,700 ACRES,

ATLANTA HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST
AIRPORT SITES IN THE WORLD...

AND IT'S SO SPREAD OUT
THAT THE DISTANCE

TO YOUR GATE CAN BE
OVER A MILE.

IF PASSENGERS HAD TO MAKE
THE JOURNEY ON FOOT,

EVEN WITH THE HELP
OF TRAVELATORS,

SOME WOULD BE GUARANTEED
TO BE LATE REACHING THEIR PLANE,

AND THAT WOULD CAUSE DELAYS.

THAT'S WHERE
THE PLANE TRAIN COMES IN.

RUNNING UNDERGROUND
ON A LINE THAT CONNECTS

ALL OF ATLANTA'S MAIN
TERMINAL BUILDINGS,

IT'S THE SPINE THAT HOLDS
THIS AIRPORT TOGETHER.

IT'S CONTROLLED FROM
A HIDDEN BUNKER

30 FEET BELOW GROUND.

CHRISTOPHER SMITH ATLANTA'S
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS DIRECTOR,

AND IT'S HIS JOB TO KEEP
THE PLANE TRAIN UP AND RUNNING.

CHRISTOPHER: WE MOVE,
ON AVERAGE OF ABOUT 94

TO OVER 100 MILLION PASSENGERS,
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID,

YOU KNOW, THIS IS
THE BUSIEST, UM, TRAIN SYSTEM

IN THE UNITED STATES.

IF THIS TRAIN SYSTEM
BREAKS DOWN, THEN WHAT YOU HAVE

IS A RIPPLE EFFECT
THROUGHOUT THIS AIRPORT

AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION,
AND HERE IN ATLANTA,

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH,
ONE--THE TRAIN SYSTEM IS UP

AND RUNNING AT ALL TIMES, AND
THE EFFICIENCY FACTOR IS HERE.

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH WIGGLE ROOM
AT ALL AS RELATES TO,

YOU KNOW, THE EFFICIENCY
OF THE TRAIN SYSTEM.

NARRATOR: BUT EVEN ONCE YOU'VE
BEEN DEPOSITED AT THE GATE,

THERE ARE STILL MORE
HIDDEN FORCES DIRECTING

THE FINAL STAGES OF YOUR JOURNEY
TO THE PLANE.

JIM: WHEN YOU GET TO YOUR GATE,
YOU WANT TO HAVE A SIGNAL,

A CUE FOR PEOPLE TO SIT, RELAX,
AND WAIT FOR THEIR PLANE,

AND SO YOU CHANGE THE SURFACE
FROM HARD SURFACE TO A SOFT,

MORE COMFORTABLE SURFACE, AND
THAT'S THE--THAT'S THE MECHANISM

THAT YOU GO FROM HARD
TO SOFT, WALK TO SIT.

NARRATOR: SUBTLE DESIGN FEATURES
LIKE THESE ARE INDISPENSABLE

IN A MODERN, BUSY AIRPORT.

INFLUENCING OUR BEHAVIOR
UNCONSCIOUSLY,

THEY'RE ESSENTIAL
FOR PREVENTING TRAVEL CHAOS.

ATLANTA’S THANKSGIVING CRUSH
MIGHT SEEM LIKE AN EXCEPTION,

BUT IN FACT, THIS IS
A VISION OF THE FUTURE.

THE U.S. FEDERAL AVIATION
ADMINISTRATION PREDICTS

THAT WITHIN TEN YEARS,
PEAKS LIKE THIS WILL BE

AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE
ACROSS AMERICA'S BIG AIRPORTS.

THIS IS THE NEW NORMAL.

BUT THE HUMAN CRUSH IS JUST
ONE CHALLENGE TO OVERCOME

IN GETTING YOUR FLIGHT
READY FOR TAKE OFF.

THERE'S ALSO THE SMALL MATTER
OF UP 8 TONS OF BAGGAGE

THAT FLIES WITH US
ON THE BIGGEST JETS.

WE DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT;
WE DROP OUR BAG AT THE CHECK-IN

AND JUST EXPECT IT
TO MATERIALIZE AT THE OTHER END.

MOST OF US HAVE NEVER EVEN
CONSIDERED THE VAST MACHINES,

UNSEEN WORKERS,
AND COMPLEX NETWORKS NEEDED

TO MOVE OUR LUGGAGE
FROM "A" TO "B."

AT DUBAI AIRPORT,
BAGGAGE PROCESSING LOOKS,

ON THE SURFACE, EXACTLY
THE SAME AS ANYWHERE

BUT THIS AIRPORT HANDLES

MORE INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS
THAN ANY OTHER.

IN JUST 3 HOURS
OF THE MORNING PEAK,

THEY PROCESS AROUND
50,000 BAGS.

STACKED LIKE THIS, THEY'D REACH
AS HIGH AS DUBAI'S BURJ KHALIFA,

THE TALLEST BUILDING
IN THE WORLD.

ANNUALLY, THE AIRPORT HANDLES
A STAGGERING 57 MILLION ITEMS,

EQUIVALENT TO
1,100 BURJ KHALIFAS...

AND IT'S ALL GOT TO BE WHISKED
THROUGH THE AIRPORT.

EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM HAS
TO GET TO THE RIGHT PLANE

AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT TIME.

BUT NO MATTER WHERE
YOU ARE IN THE WORLD,

EVERY SUITCASE HAS
TO HAVE ONE OF THESE--

THE HUMBLE BAGGAGE TAG.

IT MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE MUCH,

BUT THIS TAG IS
YOUR BAG'S PASSPORT.

SOME OF IT IS EASY
TO DECIPHER--

PASSENGER NAME AND 3-DIGIT
DESTINATION AIRPORT CODE--

BUT THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING

IS THE 10-DIGIT NUMBER PRINTED
ON EVERY BAG TAG.

THE FIRST DIGIT IDENTIFIES
THE BAG TYPE AND PRIORITY LEVEL;

THE NEXT 3, THE AIRLINE
IT'S FLYING WITH;

AND THE FINAL 6 ARE YOUR BAG'S
UNIQUE I.D. CODE.

THIS SIMPLE BARCODE DETERMINES
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS

TO YOUR SUITCASE AFTER CHECK-IN.

IT'S ABOUT TO EMBARK
ON A JOURNEY OF UP TO 85 MILES

TO REACH YOUR PLANE.

80 FEET BENEATH THE AIRPORT LIES
A BIZARRE SUBTERRANEAN WORLD,

A HIDDEN, HIGH-SPEED
RAILWAY NETWORK.

WITH A CONSTRUCTION COST
OF AROUND $700 MILLION,

THIS IS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST
LUGGAGE SYSTEM,

AND NOT A BAGGAGE HANDLER
IN SIGHT.

AFTER CHECK-IN, YOUR BAG SLIDES
INTO A YELLOW TRAY.

EACH ONE HAS A UNIQUE
RADIO FREQUENCY CHIP I.D.,

AND THE COMPUTER TRACKS
WHICH BAG HAS LANDED

IN WHICH TRAY.

DUBAI BAGGAGE MANAGER
GRAEME POLLOCK IS TASKED

WITH KEEPING AN EYE
OVER THIS VAST SYSTEM.

GRAEME: THE DUBAI BAGGAGE SYSTEM
HERE AT TERMINAL 3 IS

VERY EFFICIENT
IN TERMS OF TRACKING.

SO WHEN THE TRAY IS ON THE TRACK
SYSTEM, WE HAVE RFID READERS.

THOSE READERS WILL TAKE
THE INFORMATION FROM THE TRAY,

AND IT WILL SEND A MESSA
TO OUR BAGGAGE CONTROL ROOM,

SAYING, "HERE I AM, THIS IS
THE LOCATION OF THE TRAY."

IT'LL ALSO TELL
THE BAGGAGE SYSTEM

IN WHICH DIRECTION
THAT TRAY SHOULD GO TO.

WE CAN TRACK 100% OF YOUR BAGS,

WE TRACK THE TRAYS AS THEY GO
AROUND THE SYSTEM, SO WE'LL BE

ABLE TO IDENTIFY EXACTLY WHERE
THAT TRAY IS AND MAKE SURE

IT ENDS UP AT THE CORRECT
LOCATION AT THE CORRECT TIME.

NARRATOR: THE COMPUTERIZED BRAIN
OF THE LUGGAGE SYSTEM KNOWS

EXACTLY WHERE EVERY BAG IS GOING

WITHIN THIS HUGE NETWORK,

AND IT'LL PLOT EVERY INCH
OF ITS JOURNEY TO YOUR PLANE.

IF YOUR FLIGHT’S LEAVING
WITHIN AN HOUR,

THE COMPUTER SENDS YOUR BAG
STRAIGHT TO THE LOADING AREA.

BUT FOR THOSE OF US
WHO LIKE TO ARRIVE EARLY,

OUR BAGS END UP HERE--

THE EARLY BAGGAGE
STORAGE SYSTEM.

GRAEME: IF YOU WERE
TO CHECK IN 3 TO 6 HRS

BEFORE YOUR FLIGHT DEPARTURE,
THAT BAG WOULD ACTUALLY BE TAKEN

TO AN EARLY BAG STORE,
WHICH AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME

CAN TAKE ABOUT 16,000 BAGS.

THE BAG'LL BE STORED ON THE TRAY
WITHIN THE RACKING SYSTEM.

WHEN THE SYSTEM IDENTIFLIES

THAT THAT FLIGHT IS READY
TO LEAVE, IT WILL TAKE THAT BAG

FROM THE SYSTEM USING
A MECHANICAL ARM

AND INJECT IT
INTO THE MAIN SYSTEM.

NARRATOR: THE SHEER VOLUME
OF BAGGAGE MOVING

THROUGH DUBAI AIRPORT MEANS
THIS UNDERGROUND RAILWAY

CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO FAIL,

AND MONITORING IT ALL
FROM THE CONTROL ROOM--

FAR MORE PEOPLE THAN
ON THE ENTIRE 85 MILES

OF DESERTED BAGGAGE CONVEYORS.

MAN: OPEN THE DOUBLE
X6, AND 374,

YOU NEED TO CLEAR IT
FAST PLEASE.

NARRATOR:
SYSTEM OPERATOR SURESH BABU

IS IN CHARGE OF KEEPING
THE BAGS MOVING.

NARRATOR: THE INDICATOR BOARD
FOLLOWS A BASIC

TRAFFIC LIGHT WARNING SYSTEM.

SURESH IS ON CONSTANT ALERT
FOR A RED LIGHT...

NARRATOR: AND JUST
AN HOUR INTO HIS SHIFT,

AT THE HEIGHT OF
THE MORNING RUSH HOUR,

HE SPOTS A PROBLEM--

A WARNING INDICATOR
ON CONCOURSE "D."

NARRATOR: SOMETHING SEEMS
TO BE JAMMING THE SYSTEM,

AND THE LUGGAGE RESPONSE TEAM
HAVE JUST TEN MINUTES TO FIX IT.

IF THEY CAN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM,

THEY'LL SOON HAVE THOUSANDS
OF BAGS BACKING UP,

AND THAT COULD MEAN DOZENS
OF DELAYED PLANES.

MAN: OK? IT'S IN?

SO EVERYTHING IS OK?

YES.

NARRATOR: ONE OF THE TRAYS
HAS DERAILED.

[INDISTINCT]

NARRATOR: IT MAY APPEAR TO BE
ONLY A MINOR INCIDENT,

BUT IT'S GOT THE POTENTIAL
TO SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE AIRPORT.

NARRATOR: THEY FIXED IT,
AND ABOVE GROUND,

NONE OF THE PASSENGERS
ARE ANY THE WISER.

SINCE 2008, WHEN IT OPENED,

DUBAI'S BAGGAGE SYSTEM
HAS DELIVERED

NEARLY 400 MILLION BAGS.

AND IN ALL THAT TIME,

IT'S NEVER BROKEN DOWN.

BUT DESPITE
ALL THIS TECHNOLOGY,

FOR THE FINAL FEW FEET
UP TO THE PLANE,

IT'S BACK TO GOOD,
OLD-FASHIONED MUSCLE POWER.

NARRATOR: WITHOUT THESE
AUTOMATED BAGGAGE SYSTEMS,

LARGE AIRPORTS COULDN'T HOPE
TO DEAL WITH THEIR SHARE

OF THE 1/2 BILLION
PIECES OF LUGGAGE

WE FLY WITH ANNUALLY.

YOU MAY NOW BE ABOUT
TO BOARD YOUR PLANE,

WHILE YOUR SUITCASE IS BEING
LOADED INTO THE HOLD,

BUT WHAT ABOUT
THE AIRCRAFT ITSELF?

HAVE YOU EVER REALLY
CONSIDERED WHAT IT TAKES

TO MAKE THAT GIANT
METAL MACHINE

THAT'S SITTING WAITING
FOR YOU AT THE GATE?

WITH NEARLY 4 MILLION PARTS,

PUTTING ONE TOGETHER ISN'T EASY.

THE BIGGEST AND ARGUABLY,
THE MOST CHALLENGING

PASSENGER JET TO BUILD

IS THIS--

THE AIRBUS A380.

FROM A SEAT IN THE CABIN,
THIS PLANE FEELS

MUCH LIKE ANY OTHER.

IT'S ONLY UP CLOSE

THAT ITS SHEER SCALE
BECOMES APPARENT.

BUT GETTING THIS
MODERN MIRACLE OF ENGINEERING

READY TO FLY IS
A MAMMOTH TASK;

ONE THAT, IRONICALLY,

HAPPENS OUTSIDE
A SMALL RURAL VILLAGE.

THIS IS GIMONT
IN SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE.

NOTHING MUCH HAPPENS HERE
MOST OF THE TIME,

BUT ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS,

UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS,

THE PEACE AND QUIET
IS SHATTERED.

AROUND MIDNIGHT,

THE ROADS ARE CLOSED
TO NORMAL TRAFFIC,

AND ESCORTED BY LOCAL POLICE,

A GIANT PROCESSION
GETS UNDERWAY.

IT'S LIKE SOME KIND OF HUSHED
INDUSTRIAL CARNIVAL.

THESE ARE THE GARGANTUAN
BUILDING BLOCKS

OF JUST ONE A380.

THE PROCESSION
OF AIRCRAFT PARTS

THROUGH THE NARROW STREETS
OF THIS TINY VILLAGE IS THE
FINAL LEG OF AN EPIC
EUROPEAN JOURNEY

IN CHARGE OF KEEPING
THIS HUGE NIGHT-TIME CONVOY

ON THE MOVE IS AIRBUS
TRANSPORTATION MANAGER

FABIEN DARTHOUT.

NARRATOR: IT'S A SIGHT
THAT'S SO STRANGE,

IT MAKES YOU WONDER WHY
ANY AIRLINE MANUFACTURER

WOULD GO TO SUCH LENGTHS.

THE ANSWER LIES

WITH THE PLANE'S
$21 BILLION PRICE TAG.

IT COSTS SO MUCH
TO DESIGN AND BUILD

THAT NO ONE COUNTRY
COULD HAVE CARRIED THE RISK.

INSTEAD, 4 NATIONS INVESTED:

FRANCE, GERMANY,
BRITAIN, AND SPAIN.

IN RETURN FOR THEIR MONEY,
EACH GOT THE RIGHT

TO MANUFACTURE PART
OF THIS MONSTER PLANE.

SO THE WINGS HAVE TRAVELED
OVER 900 MILES

FROM THEIR FACTORY
IN NORTH WALES,

WHILE THE FUSELAGE HAS BEEN
SHIPPED THE SAME DISTANCE

FROM HAMBURG, GERMANY...

AND ITS GIANT TAIL SECTION
HAS COME 1,200 MILES

FROM ITS CONSTRUCTION PLANT
IN SOUTHERN SPAIN.

ALL OF THESE A380 PARTS
ARE HEADING

TO A DESTINATION JUST
A FEW MILES FROM HERE,

THE AIRBUS FINAL ASSEMBLY PLANT
OUTSIDE TOULOUSE.

THIS CUSTOM-BUILT FACTORY IS ONE
OF THE BIGGEST IN EUROPE...

AND IT'S HERE THAT
THE A380's COMPONENTS

ARE TURNED INTO
A COMPLETE PLANE.

THE PROCESS BEGINS
WITH MOVING EACH PIECE

OF THIS GIANT KIT OF PARTS
INTO THE MASSIVE ASSEMBLY RIG.

ONCE THE PIECES ARE
ALL IN PLACE,

ENGINEERS HAVE TO START
BOLTING THEM ALL TOGETHER,

RELYING ON A SURPRISINGLY
LOW-TECH METHOD-

RIVETING.

HEAD OF ASSEMBLY
JEAN-FRANCOIS PAUL IS IN CHARGE

OF THIS STAGE
OF AIRCRAFT CONSTRUCTION.

NARRATOR: IT TAKES TWO PEOPLE
TO PUT IN EACH RIVET.

NARRATOR: RIVETING
MAY APPEAR SIMPLE,

BUT IT’S ACTUALLY
A HIGHLY SKILLED JOB.

MAKE THE SLIGHTEST
MISTAKE WITH ANY ROW

AND AN AIRCRT AFULD
TEAR APART IN MID-AIR.

SO THE NEXT TIME YOU FIND
YOURSELF SITTING ON-BOARD

ONE OF THESE HUGE PLANES,

BEAR IN MIND THAT IT'S
ALL BEING HELD TOGETHER

BY OVER 20,000 RIVETS,

EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM DRIVEN
IN AND TIGHTENED BY HAND.

BUT EVEN WITH ALL
THE RIVETS IN PLACE,

THE AIRCRAFT'S STILL
ONLY A SHELL.

THE NEXT STEP INVOLVES

MOVING THE EMPTY BODY
TO A SECOND VAST HANGAR.

HERE, THE PLANE IS GIVEN
ITS VITAL SYSTEMS,

INCLUDING OVER 300 MILES
OF WIRES AND CABLING.

THE FINAL TOUCHES,
INCLUDING LIGHTING,

PANELING, AND SEATS
ARE ALL INSTALLED

AFTER THE PLANES LEAVE
THIS FACTORY.

INDIVIDUAL AIRLINES EACH CHOOSE
THEIR OWN CONFIGURATIONS.

THE LAST PIECE
OF HEAVY ENGINEERING

AT THE TOULOUSE PLANT
IS THE INSTALLATION

OF THE 4 HUGE ENGINES

THAT POWER THE A380.

WITH THESE IN PLACE,
THIS IS NOW

A FINISHED, FLYABLE AIRCRAFT.

IN TOTAL,

IT TAKES AROUND TWO MILLION
CONSTRUCTION HOURS

TO BUILD EACH AIRBUS A380.

AT 238 FEET,

THIS AIRCRAFT IS LONGER
THAN 6 CITY BUSES...

AND IT HAS A MASSIVE WINGSPAN,

MEASURING OVER 260 FEET.

ITS GIANT TAIL STANDS
NEARLY 80 FEET HIGH.

THE A380 DWARFS

ANY OTHER PASSENGER PLANE
FLYING TODAY.

THERE ARE NOW OVER 190
OF THESE MONSTERS

IN SERVICE AROUND THE WORLD.

BUT WITH ANOTHER 129 ON ORDER,

FOR THE TEAM IN TOULOUSE,
IT'S RIGHT ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

THE SUPER SIZED A380 IS
A PLANE ON SUCH A SCALE,

IT'S FORCED THE WORLD
OF AVIATION TO CHANGE AROUND IT.

RUNWAYS HAVE BEEN REINFORCED
TO COPE WITH ITS WEIGHT,

AND ANY AIRPORT
WANTING TO HOST IT

HAS HAD TO MODIFY
ITS TERMINALS AND JETWAYS.

THIS IS THE CITY IN THE SKY'S

BIGGEST, MOST COMPLEX PLANE,

A VAST MACHINE THAT HUMS AWAY

WHILE YOU RELAX IN YOUR SEAT.

AS YOU FLY ALONG,
BENEATH YOUR FEET,

UNDER THE FLOORS,
AND WITHIN THE WALLS,

ITS THOUSANDS OF SYSTEMS
ARE QUIETLY

AND EFFICIENTLY KEEPING IT
IN THE AIR

AND KEEPING YOU SAFE.

AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO

FOR THE 60 MILLION MILES
IT IS EXPECTED

TO FLY OVER ITS LIFETIME.

BUT THIS PLANE,
LIKE ANY OTHER,

WOULDN'T BE GOING ANYWHERE
WITHOUT ONE MAGIC INGREDIENT.

WITHOUT IT, THE ENTIRE
AIRBORNE METROPOLIS

WOULD STALL
AND COME CRASHING DOWN.

IT'S CALLED JET A1...

FUEL,

THE LIFEBLOOD
OF THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY.

AND KEEPING MILLIONS OF GALLONS
OF THIS STUFF FLOWING

CALLS FOR A SUPPLY SYSTEM
ON A VAST SCALE.

GHENT, A SMALL TOWN
IN THE BELGIAN COUNTRYSIDE.

IT'S HOME TO ONE
OF THE LARGEST

JET FUEL STORAGE
FACILITIES IN EUROPE.

THIS IS WHERE MUCH
OF THE CONTINENT'S JET FUEL

STARTS ITS LONG JOURNEY
TO THE AIRPORT.

THESE HUGE STORAGE TANKS

ARE ABOUT TO BE FILLED
WITH AVIATION FUEL.

EACH ONE HOLDS
JUST UNDER 12 MILLION GALLONS,

ENOUGH TO FILL ABOUT 370
OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST PLANES.

IT MIGHT SOUND
LIKE A LOT, BUT IN FACT,

IT'S JUST A TINY DROP
IN THE OCEAN.

THERE ARE OVER 25
VAST FUEL TANKS

PACKED INTO THIS SITE ALONE.

SPECIAL OPERATIONS MANAGER
FRANK ROELS

OVERSEES THIS MASSIVE FACILITY.

IN A COUPLE OF DAYS' TIME,
HE NEEDS TO START

FILLING THESE TANKS WITH FUEL
FRESH FROM THE REFINERY.

BEFORE IT'S FIT
FOR USE ON PLANES,

JET FUEL NEEDS TO BE
100% PURE.

ANY IMPURITIES COULD
EVENTUALLY BLOCK FUEL PIPES.

BUT WHEN THE FUEL ARRIVES HERE,

IT'S NOT YET AS CLEAN
AS IT SHOULD BE;

THERE'S ONE UNLIKELY IMPURITY

LEFT BEHIND FROM
THE REFINING PROCESS...

WATER,

SO FRANK AND HIS TEAM NEED
TO DO SOME SPRING CLEANING.

NARRATOR: YEASTS AND MOLDS
IN THE WATER

CAN FEED ON THE HYDROCARBONS
AND OTHER NUTRIENTS

IN THE JET FUEL.

AS THEY GROW,
THEY COULD FORM PARTICLES

THAT COULD CLOG UP
FUEL FILTERS,

WITH POTENTIAL
CATASTROPHIC RESULTS

NARRATOR: SO, TO ENSURE
MOLD-FREE JET FUEL,

THE WATER'S GOT TO GO.

LUCKILY, THAT'S EASIER
THAN IT SOUNDS.

WATER'S HEAVIER THAN FUEL,

SO IT SIMPLY SEPARATES OUT,
SINKS TO THE BOTTOM

OF THE HOLDING TANK, AND FLOWS
AWAY THROUGH THESE GIANT DRAINS.

TO ALLOW IT TO DRAIN AWAY
COMPLETE,

THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK
HAS TO BE SPOTLESS.

ANY OIL LEFT BEHIND
FROM A PREVIOUS STORAGE

HAS GOT TO GO.

ONCE THE TANK'S BEEN
SCRUBBED DOWN

AND THOROUGHLY CLEANED,
IT'S READY

TO BE FILLED WITH FUEL,

BUT THERE'S ONE SMALL PEOBLEM

THIS FACILITY SITS
HUNDREDS OF MILES

FROM THE AIRPORTS WHERE
THE FUEL IS NEEDED,

AND TRYING TO TRANSPORT SUCH
A MASSIVE VOLUME OF FUEL

BY ROAD COULD CREATE CHAOS.

IT WOULD REQUIRE
A DAILY CONVOY OF TRUCKS

FROM GHENT ALONE.

FACTOR IN THE CONTINENT'S
OTHER STORAGE PORTS,

AND THERE'D BE AROUND 300,000
MORE TRUCK LOADS A YEAR,

ADDING TO THE CHAOS ON EUROPE'S
ALREADY CROWDED HIGHWAYS.

THE SOLUTION IS BURIED
UNDERGROUND.

IT'S A HIDDEN NETWORK
KNOWN AS CEPS--

THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN
PIPELINE SYSTEM--

ONE OF THE BIGGEST AVIATION
FUEL PIPELINES IN THE WORLD.

WITHOUT IT, EUROPE'S SKIES
WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT EMPTIER.

BUILT BY NATO BACK IN
THE FIFTIES

TO FUEL ITS COLD WAR BASES,

THIS 3,000-MILE PIPELINE
SPANS THE CONTINENT.

IN THE EVENT OF WAR,

THIS HIDDEN FUEL NETWORK
WOULD HAVE HELPED KEEP

MILITARY JETS IN THE AIR.

MANY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
AND SOME IN THE U.S. ARE FED

BY PIPELINES LIKE CEPS,

INCLUDING THE COLONIAL
PIPELINE THAT SUPPLIES

SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S
BUSIEST AIRPORTS,

INCLUDING ATLANTA,
RALEIGH-DURHAM,

AND WASHINGTON DULLES.

BUT IT'S CEPS
THAT CARRIES MORE JET FUEL

ACROSS EUROPE
THAN ANY OTHER SYSTEM,

AND TODAY, IT'S DELIVERING
MORE THAN EVER,

AROUND 2.4 BILLION GALLONS
A YEAR,

ALL FLOWING INTO SOME
OF EUROPE'S BIGGEST AIRPORTS.

GERMANY'S FRANKFURT AIRPORT

IS ONE OF ITS MOST
IMPORTANT CUSTOMERS.

AROUND 60 MILLION
PASSENGERS TRAVEL

FROM THIS MASSIVE
INTERNATIONAL HUB EVERY YEAR.

AND MOST PASSENGERS WALKING
THROUGH THE ARRIVALS HALL

HAVE NO IDEA
OF THE RIVERS OF FUEL

FLOWING RIGHT BENEATH
THEIR FEET.

THE MAN RESPONSIBLE
FOR GETTING THE FUEL

FROM THE PIPELINE
INTO WAITING AIRCRAFT

IS FUEL STATION MANAGER
GUNTHER HANSEL.

GUNTHER AND HIS TEAM REFUEL
AROUND 230 AIRCRAFT

EVERY SINGLE DAY.

FIRST UP ON THE MEGA FORECOURT
THIS MORNING--AN A380.

THIS ONE'S DUE
TO FLY OUT TO DUBAI

JUST 45 MINUTES FROM NOW.

TIME TO GET PUMPING.

NARRATOR:
THE "DEAD MAN'S" HANDLE

IS A VITAL SAFETY MECHANISM.

IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACCIDENT,

LETTING GO OF IT INSTANTLY
SHUTS OFF THE FLOW

OF PRESSURIZED FUEL.

IN THIS BUSY TERMINAL AREA
PACKED WITH LOADED PLANES,

ANY FUEL LEAK WOULD BE
A SERIOUS HAZARD.

NARRATOR: IT TAKES ABOUT
A HALF-HOUR, AND 25,000 GALLONS,

TO FILL THE AIRCRAFT'S
GIANT TANKS...

AND THE BILL--

A TASTY $28,000.

IT MIGHT SOUND
LIKE A SMALL FORTUNE,

BUT IT'S A TINY FRACTION
OF THE $226 BILLION WORTH

OF JET FUEL THAT THE CITY
IN THE SKY CONSUMES

EVERY YEAR.

GUNTHER'S TEAM ARE NOW FINISHED
REFUELING THIS AIRCRAFT,

BUT WITH ANOTHER 229 PLANES
TO GO ON TODAY'S SHIFT,

THEY'RE KEPT VERY BUSY.

EXACTLY THE SAME SCENE IS
PLAYED OUT CONTINUOUSLY

AT AIRPORTS
ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

ACROSS THE U.S.,
AIRCRAFT CONSUME

63 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.

THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS
DELIVERING ALL THIS FUEL

MUST BE TOTALLY RELIABLE.

THE TAPS CAN NEVER BE
ALLOWED TO RUN DRY.

WITH GAS IN THE TANK,
PASSENGERS AND LUGGAGE ON-BOARD,

AND THE PLANE ITSELF
READY AND WAITING,

YOU MIGHT THINK
IT'S TIME FOR TAKEOFF.

BUT OUR FLIGHT'S STILL
MISSING ONE OTHER VITAL ELEMENT,

ONE THAT MANY DREAD...

AIRLINE FOOD.

FEEDING THE CITY
IN THE SKY ISN'T EASY.

YOU'VE SEEN FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
PREPPING AND SERVING MEALS.

THEY MAKE IT ALL LOOK SO SIMPLE,

LIKE A WELL-OILED MACHINE.

BUT WHERE DO ALL
THESE MEALS COME FROM?

WITH A MILLION HUNGRY RESIDENTS
AIRBORNE AT ANY ONE TIME,

THIS IS A METROPOLIS
WITH A VERY LARGE APPETITE.

IN GLOBAL TERMS,

THE POPULATION OF THE CITY IN
THE SKY PACKS AWAY

AROUND A BILLION
HOT MEALS AND SALADS

EVERY YEAR,

GORGES ON OVER TWO BILLION CAKES

AND PASTRIES,

AND WASHES IT ALL DOWN
WITH BILLIONS OF GALLONS

OF WINE, WATER,
AND SOFT DRINKS.

IT'S ENOUGH FOOD
AND DRINK TO FEED A CITY

THE SIZE OF AUSTIN, TEXAS.

THE PROCESS OF GETTING MILLIONS
OF MEALS INTO THE AIR STARTS

AT THE CRACK OF DAWN

AT AIRPORTS AROUND THE WORLD.

DUBAI, 6 A.M.,

AND A PROCESSION OF TRUCKS IS
DELIVERING EVERYTHING NEEDED

FOR A JOURNEY INTO THE SKY.

IT TAKES AN AVERAGE
OF 4 TRUCKLOADS TO FILL

A JUMBO JET.

AND IN TOTAL,

AROUND A THOUSAND PLANES
WILL BE LEAVING HERE TODAY.

PREPARING THE MEALS FOR MOST
OF THOSE FLIGHTS,

THE WORLD'S BIGGEST FLIGHT
CATERING FACILITY.

AND IN CHARGE OF IT ALL,

CATERING SERVICES
VICE PRESIDENT DUNCAN DAVIS.

DUNCAN: AT THE MOMENT, WE'RE
SUPPLYING 150,000 MEALS A DAY.

WE HAVE JAPANESE CHEFS,
WE HAVE CHINESE CHEFS,

WE HAVE INDIAN CHEFS,
WE HAVE ARABIC CHEFS,

WE HAVE EUROPEAN CHEFS,
WESTERN CHEFS, MALAYSIAN,

SO, REALLY, ANY TYPE
OF CUISINE WE CAN PRODUCE,

AND IT'S A BIG VARIETY.

[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

DUNCAN: THIS AREA HERE NOW IS
THE BUSINESS CLASS WORK CELL.

UH, THE--THE LADY HERE
IS PREPARING A FLIGHT

FOR AHMEDABAD, WHICH IS
LEAVING THIS EVENING,

SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT
SPECIFICATIONS

'CAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT MENUS
FOR DIFFERENT FLIGHTS.

WE ACTUALLY ARE RUNNING
1,543 MENUS

AT THE MOMENT FOR EMIRATES,
AND THEY CHANGE EVERY MONTH,

BUT THIS IS THE MENU
TODAY TO AHMEDABAD.

THIS IS AN ARABIC MEAL CHOICE,
AND THIS IS THE WESTERN.

NARRATOR: THE SHEER SCALE
ON WHICH THIS KITCHEN OPERATES

REVEALS THE IMMENSE RESOURCES
AND EFFORTS

THAT GO INTO MAKING
AIRLINE MEALS.

NARRATOR: EXECUTIVE CHEF
BRUNO TROESCH

IS IN CHARGE OF FOOD ORDERING.

NARRATOR: 3 HOURS FROM NOW,
THIS BATCH WILL BE SERVED UP

TO HUNGRY PAGERSEN
AT 30,000 FEET.

IT'S A MONSTER OPERATION

RUNNING 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR...

A KITCHEN THAT NEVER SLEEPS.

AND EVEN THOUGH DUBAI HANDLES
MORE INTERNATIONAL PASSENGERS

THAN ANY OTHER AIRPORT,

ALL THE FOOD THEY RUSTLE UP HERE

AMOUNTS TO ONLY ABOUT 1%

OF THE TOTAL
WE WOLF DOWN IN FLIGHT.

AND YOU DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK
ABOUT WASHING THE DISHES.

LUCKILY FOR THEM, THEY'VE GOT
THE BIGGEST AND BUSIEST

DISHWASHER FACILITY IN THE WORLD
TO HANDLE THE LOAD.

SO, WITH THE FOOD ON-BOARD,
YOU'RE NOW READY.

YOU'VE CHECKED IN.

BAG DROPPED.

PLANE FUELED AND GOOD TO GO.

DEPARTURE IS IMMINENT.

THIS DAILY BALLET
OF PREPARING PLANES FOR FLIGHT

IS REPEATED MANY THOUSANDS
OF TIMES AROUND THE WORLD.

WHATEVER THE CONDITIONS
IN WHICH WE TAKE OFF--

RAIN, SUN, OR SNOW--

IT ALL HAS TO WORK PERFECTLY.

BUT IT'S HARDER IN SOME PLACES
THAN IN OTHERS.

AND THIS PLACE--
YAKUTSK, SIBERIA--

IS PERHAPS THE TOUGHEST
OF THEM ALL.

THIS IS THE COLDEST CITY
ON EARTH,

A REMOTE PLACE THAT'S SNOWBOUND

FOR HALF THE YEAR.

AVIATION IS ITS LIFELINE.

KEEPING THE AIRPORT OPEN
IN THESE EXTREME CONDITIONS

IS CRITICAL.

TODAY, IT'S -53 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT.

NARRATOR: IT'S DOWN
TO ALEXEI FILYUSHIN

AND HIS AIRPORT MAINTENANCE TEAM
TO KEEP THE PLANES FLYING

IN THESE FREEZING CONDITIONS.

9 A.M.,

AND THE MORNING FLIGHT
FROM MOSCOW'S JUST LANDED.

[WIND HOWLING]

NARRATOR: IN THESE
FREEZING TEMPERATURES,

ANY PLANE LANDING AT YAKUTSK
IS IN SERIOUS DANGER.

WITHOUT PROTECTIVE CLOTHING,

ANYBODY OUT HERE WOULD
QUICKLY GET HYPOTHERMIA,

AND THIS PLANE IS
EVERY BIT AS VULNERABLE.

UNLESS IT GETS IMMEDIATE
ENGINEERING FIRST AID,

IT WON'T BE GOING ANYWHERE.

THE FIRST THING THEY NEED
TO DEAL WITH ARE ITS WHEELS.

PLANE'RUBBER TIRES
WOULD SOON BECOME

SO COLD AND BRITTLE,
THEY'D BE UNUSABLE.

SO ALEXEI AND HIS ENGINEERS
MUST OPERATE

LIKE AN E.R. CRASH TEAM...
FOR JETS.

NARRATOR: THE PLANE'S BRAKES
ARE STILL HOT AFTER LANDING,

AND WRAPPING THEM IN HEAVY-DUTY
INSULATING BLANKETS

TRAPS THE RESIDUAL WARMTH.

IT'S LIKE WRAPPING A HUMAN
IN A SURVIVAL BLANKET,

USING THE BODY'S OWN HEAT
TO PREVENT HYPOTHERMIA.

BUT PROTECTING THE TIRES
IS JUST THE FIRST STEP.

THIS JET ALSO NEEDS
THE AVIATION EQUIVALENT

OF HOT COCOA.

ITS HUGE ENGINES ARE IN DANGER.

THE OIL LUBRICATING THEM
AND OTHER KEY PARTS OF THE PLANE

HAS A FREEZING TEMPERATURE
OF -40 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

BELOW THAT,
IT STARTS TO SOLIDIFY,

AND EVERYTHING BEGINS
TO SEIZE UP.

AND TODAY, IT'S -53,

SO FOR ALEXEI,

TIMING IS CRITICAL.

NARRATOR: AT 150 DEGREES,

THE HOT AIR KEEPS
THE OIL FLOWING

AND STOPS THE ENGINES
SEIZING UP.

IT'S NOW BEEN 45 MINUTES
SINCE THE PLANE LANDED,

AND WHILE ALEXEI'S TEAM
HAVE BEEN HARD AT WORK,

A NEW LOAD OF PASSENGERS
HAVE BOARDED.

[MAN SHOUTS IN RUSSIAN]

NARRATOR: FLIGHT 137 FOR MOSCOW
IS NEARLY READY FOR DEPARTURE.

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

NARRATOR:
AT THE VERY LAST MOMENT,

ALEXEI STRIPS AWAY
THE HEATERS AND BLANKETS.

NOW THE PLANE'S GOT
JUST TEN MINUTES

TO GET OFF THE GROUND BEFORE IT
STARTS TO FREEZE UP AGAIN.

IT'S 10 A.M.

IT PULLS BACK FROM THE GATE,

AND SURE ENOUGH,
RIGHT ON TIME,

IT BARRELS DOWN THE RUNWAY.

ONE PLANE, SAFELY AIRBORNE.

ONLY ANOTHER 34 FLIGHTS

FOR ALEXEI AND HIS TEAM
TO TACKLE TODAY...

SAME AS EVERY DAY,
OF THE COLDEST WINTER MONTHS.

AS THE GLOBAL AVIATION
NETWORK REACHES OUT

TO EVERY REMOTE CORNER
OF THE PLANET,

TAKEOFFS IN EXTREME CONDITIONS
ARE BECOMING EVER MORE COMMON,

WHETHER IN SIBERIA

OR THE ISOLATED
ALASKAN WILDERNESS.

THE CITY IN THE SKY HAS NOW
TRANSFORMED OUR WAY OF LIFE.

ONCE-INACCESSIBLE OUTPOSTS
ARE NOW JUST A FLIGHT AWAY.

WE CAN TRAVEL ANYWHERE WE WANT
A MATTER OF HOURS.

BUT WHEREVER WE'RE
DEPARTING FROM,

AND WHEREVER WE'RE HEADING TO,

WE'VE STILL GOT TO GET AIRBORNE.

NARRATOR: IT ALL COMES DOWN
TO THIS VITAL MOMENT,

THE POINT AT WHICH YOUR PLANE
PULLS BACK FROM THE GATE

AND PREPARES TO HURTLE
DOWN THE RUNWAY.

SO, [INDISTINCT].

NARRATOR: CAPTAIN
JOACHIM SCHWARZENBERG

IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED
A380 PILOTS IN THE WORLD...

AND HE'S JUST MINUTES AWAY
FROM TAKEOFF.

CAPTAIN: WE HAVE TO
START CHECKLISTS.

LUFTHANSA 760 IS
CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF.

[INDISTINCT]
READY.

NARRATOR: IT'S EASY TO TAKE
THIS MOMENT FOR GRANTED,

BUT EVERY TAKEOFF IS AN ACT
OF GRAVITY-DEFYING BRILLIANCE.

READY?
YES, SIR.

TAKEOFF.

NARRATOR: IT STARTS WITH
THE AIRCRAFT BUILDING UP SPEED.

STABILIZED.

100 KNOTS.
CHECK.

NARRATOR: CAPTAIN JO NEEDS
TO GET HIS 500-TON PLANE

TO AROUND 165 MILES PER HOUR

IN THE NEXT 6 SECONDS.

HE PUSHES THE THROTTLE
LEVER FORWARD,

AND HIS 4 MASSIVE ENGINES
SPRING TO LIFE.

THEY'RE SUCKING
HUGE VOLUMES OF AIR

THROUGH THEIR TURBINE BLADES,
COMPRESSING IT

BEFORE IT MIXES
WITH JET FUEL AND IGNITES.

RESULT--
THRUST BLASTING OUT THE BACK,

THE FORCE THAT PUSHES
THE PLANE FORWARD.

WITHIN A FEW SECONDS,
THIS FORCE POWERS THE AIRCRAFT

TO ITS OPTIMAL TAKEOFF SPEED--

165 MILES PER HOUR--

VELOCITY ONE, OR V1.

AUTOMATED VOICE: V1.

NARRATOR: AS THE PLANE
ACCELERATES,

THIS HUGE INCREASE
IN SPEED HAS ALL THE WHILE

BEEN GENERATING A STREAM OF AIR

MOVING AROUND THE WING.

THIS AIRFLOW CREATES
AN EFFECT CALLED LIFT,

AND THE FASTER
THE AIRCRAFT GOES,

THE MORE LIFT IT GENERATES.

THEN, AT JUST OVER
165 MILES PER HOUR,

CAPTAIN JO REACHES TAKEOFF'S
MOST CRITICAL POINT.

HE PULLS BACK ON THE SIDE STICK,

ADJUSTING THE POSITION
OF THE ELEVATORS

70 METERS BEHIND THE COCKPIT
ON THE AIRCRAFT'S TAIL.

IT'S CALLED ROTATION.

ROTATION USES THE ELEVATORS
TO FORCE THE PLANE'S NOSE UP.

BY ALTERING
THE AIRCRAFT'S ANGLE,

MUCH MORE OF THE AIR
FLOWING AROUND THE WING

IS FORCED DOWNWARDS,

SO THE PLANE'S LIFT
IS GREATLY ENHANCED.

WITHIN A SECOND OR TWO,

THIS ALLOWS IT TO EFFORTLESSLY
LEAVE THE GROUND.

AND WITH THAT,

ANOTHER 500 PASSENGERS
HAVE JOINED

THE CITY IN THE SKY.

TAKEOFFS LIKE THIS ARE
CARRIED OUT ALL OVER THE WORLD

THOUSANDS OF TIMES A DAY.

WHETHER YOU'RE DEPARTING
FROM L.A. OR NEWYORK

OR HURTLING DOWN THE RUNWAY

IN THE FROZEN EXTREMES
OF YAKUTSK...

YOU'RE FINALLY UP IN THE AIR.

OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS,
YOU MIGHT HAVE A FEW DRINKS

OR WATCH AN IN-FLIGHT MOVIE,

BUT WHILE YOU'RE
SITTING THERE REXING,

THERE'S A LOT MORE GOING ON
BEHIND THE SCENES

THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT,

FOR YOU ARE ENTERING
THE MOST ALIEN ENVIRONMENT

ON THE PLANET,

A PLACE WITH THIN AIR,

SAVAGE WINDS,
AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES.

FLIGHT IS A REMARKABLE
ACHIEVEMENT,

AND YOUR PLANE IS ONE
OF AROUND 100,000

TAKING TO THE SKIES
ACROSS THE WORLD

EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THE JOURNEY'S ONLY JUST BEGUN.

A PLACE WITH THIN AIR AND
SAVAGE WINDS

Pilot: We're headed back
towards Dublin

Narrator: BUT BEHIND THE SCENE
THERE’S A HIDEN WORLD

KEEPING YOU UP IN THE AIR.

EXPERTS TO PROTECT YOUR PLANE.

Expert: Wow.

Narrator: AIR TRAFFIC
CONTROLLERS TO CLEAR YOUR ROUTE,

DOCTORS TO KEEP YOU SAFE
IN FLIGHT.

Doctor: HE IS NOW HAVING TROBLE
BREATHING.

Narrator: AND ALL THIS IS
HAPPENING

WHILE YOUR AT 30,000 ft.

♪

ANNOUNCER: "CITY IN THE SKY"
IS AVAILABLE ON DVD.

TO ORDER, VISIT SHOPPBS.ORG