This image shows the smoke and air pollution that the old B707 use to produce at takeoff

Airports usually talk about jet blast deflectors as a way to protect buildings, other airplanes, and nearby communities. But every day, the people who stand closest to the engines are ground staff and maintenance crews are the ones that need more protection. This article explains, in simple terms, how a modern jet blast deflector can reduce toxic fumes for ground staff, using a real example from José María Córdova International Airport (Rionegro, Colombia). Vortex Deflector i

If you live near an airport, you’ve probably felt it — that deep rumble  that shakes your windows and vibrates through your chest when an aircraft engine powers up for takeoff or during maintenance tests. That sensation isn’t just “noise.” It’s low-frequency sound , and it behaves very differently from the high-pitched tones we normally associate with loudness. 🔊 The Science Behind the Rumble Unlike sharp, high-frequency sounds, low frequencies have very long wavelengths  —

A video shows an airport ground staff member walking too close to engine #2 of an likely an Airbus A320—unaware of the invisible danger zone behind it.  Within seconds, they’re violently thrown to the tarmac by the jet blast.  Miraculously, they stand up and walk away. But the physics behind this are anything but forgiving: 🔹 At idle, the Airbus Airport Planning Manual notes jet blast speeds up to 45 m/s (~162 km/h) — equivalent to a violent storm on the Beaufort Wind Scale.