In Britain tracked air-cushion vehicle development is also under way, with construction of a "Hovertrain," propelled by a relatively silent linear induction motor that has no moving parts and picks up current as it moves along the track.
The recording was posted to the Web by LiveATC.net, which tracks air communications.
FlightStats, a company that tracks air travel, released its annual On-time Performance Service awards for 2012.
Others are tracking air quality, the motion of crowds or how many mobile phones are being used nearby.
"The airline executives are arrogant," said Joe Brancatelli, an on-line travel columnist who specializes in tracking air fares.
Still, it was only a small fraction of the 6,484 flights that were canceled on Wednesday, according to FlightAware.com, a Web site that tracks air travel.
It has been cited for environmental violations four times since 2008, said Ma Jun, director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, a Chinese nongovernmental organization that tracks air and water pollution.
"Actually I have a message for you to go back to the gate immediately," an air traffic controller told the pilot, according to a recording posted to the Web by LiveATC.net, which tracks air communications.
