A Reuters article published Sunday describes how some 2,000 airplanes are soaking up the sun in the southwestern US because they are not fuel-efficient enough for active service with today's high jet fuel prices. Written by John Crawley, the article says many of the idled planes may never fly again because cost pressures are pushing airlines toward newer models that require less fuel and fewer people to maintain them. Not mentioned in the article is a trend toward greater use of composite materials to reduce the weight of new aircraft and make them more fuel efficient. Composite materials include carbon and glass fibers, and fiber metal laminates. Laminates are used in the fuselage while fiber-reinforced composites are used in flooring and overhead containers, and in high-traffic areas such as lavatories and food service galleys. Cargo planes use composite flooring and containers. For more about what Boeing and Airbus are doing to make their planes more fuel efficient, check their Websites.