Joho the Blog
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August 18, 2005
Julian Bond wonders how many people are flying in airplanes at any one time. You win if you guess the answer within one order of magnitude. Julian's guess is one million. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer... [Tag: OrderOfMagnitudeQuiz] Posted
by D. Weinberger at August 18, 2005 09:52 AM
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Comments
Criteria?
Worldwide?
North America?
I was going to ask time of day, but prior criteria might reduce this as a criteria?
Interesting question.
Posted by: JTH | August 18, 2005 10:44 AM
Worldwide. AS for time of day, I'd suggest we go for the maximum number during any 24 hour period, outside of the maximum travel holidays.
Posted by: David Weinberger | August 18, 2005 11:52 AM
Using FAA statistics as a starting point (http://www.faa.gov is just bursting with stats and links to more stats), I'd have to say one million is a tad high. My guess would be in the neighborhood of 750,000, and that is most likely too high because I'm making assumptions about air travel in Asia that are probably too generous.
Posted by: David Dembeck | August 18, 2005 02:52 PM
1 million is magnitude 6.
750,000 is magnitude 5.9
The difference is minor when you remember that we're talking "within one order of magnitude"
Posted by: Crosbie Fitch | August 19, 2005 05:46 AM
An interesting question, which I try to answer coherently.
Posted by: John Dougan | August 22, 2005 05:08 AM