As the crow flies 像烏鴉一樣飛,走直線  (2015/1/20)

As the crow flies: in a straight line, by the shortest route

Example: It’s only one mile as the crow flies, but about three miles by this mountain road.

1)   FAA to let planes fly as the crow flies 美國民航署讓飛機飛直線

Everyone knows that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. But until now, no one had figured out how to apply the principle to jet airline travel.

The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) announced plans Friday for a new air traffic control system that will allow planes to fly point to point, presumably making jet air travel faster, safer and more efficient.

大家都知道兩點之間最短距離就是一直線,但是迄今卻想不出該如何把這道理應用到飛航上面.美國民航署週五宣布一項新航管系統的計畫,可讓飛機從一個點直飛到另一個點,讓空中旅行更加快速安全,並且更有效率.

2)  The challenge has been finding an alternative travel option by land and sea that takes them across the Middle East, while avoiding deadly conflict areas.

The flight from Abu Dhabi to London is eight hours long, crossing a distance of about 3,500 miles (5,600 km), as the crow flies.

這項挑戰是尋找替代的陸路或是海路方式,穿越中東地區,並且避開可能致命的衝突區域. 從阿布達比飛到倫敦需要八小時,直線距離是五千六百公里.

(這篇報導是講一對父母要帶著兒子從中東返回倫敦,不料臨上飛機時,這個孩子卻突然罹患恐機症,無論如何不肯搭機.父母只得另闢蹊徑返鄉.)