Aircraft, Commercial

ommercial aircraft carry passen­gers and cargo or perform other paid work in the field of general aviation. Fleets of large commercial air­planes are owned by airlines. Many smaller commercial aircraft are owned by small businesses and private pilots.

Airplanes used for commercial air transportation include the huge, wide­bodied airliners able to carry more than 400 passengers. Today’s freight carriers can take loads of cargo weighing more than 155 tons (140 metric tons). These large aircraft fly for thousands of miles across continents and oceans. Cargo planes carry goods-such as perishable foods, mail, and money-that are rela­tively small or of high value and that need to be moved quickly.

General purpose aircraft include small airplanes with special tasks, such as farm crop dusters. Helicopters are also
useful for business travel and on large farms and ranches.