【聯合晚報╱美聯社】
地圖app協助阿布奎基熱氣球駕駛
Map app helps Albuquerque balloon pilots
Like invisible roadblocks, altitude restrictions clutter the skies above Albuquerque. The ground is its own mine field, with utility towers, busy roadways and plots of restricted land.
阿布奎基的天空布滿各種高度限制，就像隱形的路障一樣，而地面上更到處是雷區，有電塔、繁忙的公路與限制降落的區塊。
Finding the sweet spot has become a complicated ballet for the hundreds of hot air balloon pilots who are drawn to the city each October for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
每年10月的阿布奎基國際熱氣球節吸引數百個熱氣球齊集該市，但對熱氣球駕駛來說，如何在天地之間找到合適的升降路線，就像是一場複雜的芭蕾。
This year, they have a new tool to help them navigate.
今年，他們有一項新工具協助他們航行。
Fiesta organizers are equipping all 550 pilots with tablets capable of running a special map application that will help them steer clear of obstacles and avoid areas that are off-limits to landing.
活動主辦單位提供所有550位駕駛的平板電腦，執行一種特別的地圖應用程式，能協助他們繞過障礙，避開禁止著陸的地區。
The city has grown exponentially since the first fiesta more than 40 years ago, making flying and landing more challenging.
自從熱氣球節40多年前創立以來，阿布奎基市就快速成長，也讓飛行與著陸變得更具挑戰性。
"Landing spots are scarce, so this will help them a bunch," said Mike McKnight, the fiesta's technology manager.
這項節慶的科技主管麥奈特說：「由於降落點很稀少，所以app是很大的幫助。」
留言列表
