AVIATION ENGLISH WORKSHEET

A. READING
Read the following text carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

Airports

Airports are divided into airside and landside areas. Airside areas are where
the airplanes can be found. These include runways and taxiways, as well as stands, where
aircraft are parked for providing direct access to the terminal building through an air
bridge or jetway. The airside area also includes the apron, where several aircraft may park
at a distance from the terminal building. Access to all airside areas is subject to tight
security controls. Lanside areas, on the other hand, which include shops, restaurants, car
parks and check-in areas, are more accessible to the general public.
Some airports may have only one runway, but most major airports have
several. When a new airport is built or an existing one expanded, runway layout is of
primary concern. Runways need to be laid out to make optimum use of the prevailing
winds because aircraft need to take off and land directly into the wind if possible.
Crosswinds can be a dangerous hazard. Assuming that the airport will be busy, the layout
should also be efficient, ideally allowing runways to be used simultenously.
The three main runway configurations are parallel runways, open-V runways
(they diverge but do not intersect; when viewed overhead the shape is a ‘V’), and
intersecting runways. The latter two types are relevant in locations where the direction of
prevailing wind changes.
Runways are labelled depending on their direction relative to the magnetic
compass. This number is clearly indicated at the end of each runway. If a runway is
labelled 09 at its starting point (runway threshold) because it runs due east (900), then it
will be labelled 27 at the other end which is the runway threshold should the pilot need to
land in a westerly direction (2700). In this way, when a wind reverses direction, landings
and takeoffs follow suits. All runways are thus designated by two numbers the difference
between which is 18. For example, on runway 13 – 31 pilots can either land or take off
with a heading of 1300 or 3100.
At international airports all runways must have ground markings and
standardized lighting according to agreed international standards. The threshold and
direction of a runway should be clearly marked as well as the touchdown zone and
distance markers at various points to show a pilot how much runway is left. The centre
line should also be clearly visible as well as the runway exits leading to taxiways.
Standardized lighting is as follows :
 Green threshold lights mark the beginning of a runway
 Red lights mark the end of a runway
 White or yellow lights mark the edges of a runway
 Blue lights indicate taxiways

Adapted from Aviation English for ICAO Compliance Teacher’s Book, 2008
 Questions

1. Into how many sides is airport divided?

_____________________________________________________________________
2. What are included in airside areas?
_____________________________________________________________________
3. What are included in landside areas?
_____________________________________________________________________
4. Mention the three main runway configurations.
_____________________________________________________________________
5. What should be considered when building a new airport or expanding an existing
one?
_____________________________________________________________________
6. How is a runway labelled?
_____________________________________________________________________
7. What are the colour of the standardized lighting for:
a. threshold : ____________________________________________
b. the end of the runway : ____________________________________________
c. the edges of the runway : ____________________________________________
d. taxiway : ____________________________________________

B. VOCABULARY

1. The ICAO Alphabet

Alpha N
B O
C P
D Q
E R
F S
G T
H U
I V
J W
K X
 L Y
M Zulu

2. Vocabulary related to Airports

 airport / aerodrome : bandara

 airstrip :
 terminal :
 concourse :
 tower :
 airside :
 landside :
 parking lot / parking area :
 shuttle bus :
 check-in counter :
 duty-free shops :
 airport tax :
 waiting room :
 gate :
 lounge :
 air bridge / aviobridge / jetway :
 apron / ramp :
 runway :
 taxiway :
 parking stand :
 runway threshold :
 runway edge :
 runway end :
 ground marking :
 standardized lighting :
 touchdown zone :
 centre line :
 apron movement control :
 windsock :
 Ground Support Equipment :
 Remote Stand :
 Access Road :
 Fire station :
 Break down area :
 Maneuvering area :
 Movement area :
 Service road :
 Hangar :
 Equipment parking area :
 Passenger boarding stairs :
 Lavatory :
  Aircraft safety area : :
 No parking area :
 Follow-me car :
 Towing car :
 Push back car :
 Take off / landing :
 Apron Bus Passenger :
 Igloo :
 Container :
 Regulated Agent :
 Consignee :
 Warehouse :
 Power house :
 Aircraft :
 …..

3. Vocabulary related to Animal Hazard in Aviation

 bird strike :
 safety hazard :
 runway inspection :
 hold :
 cage :
 bulkhead :
 perimeter fence :
 grass margin :
 bird scarer :
 security worker :
 poison :
 container :
 pallet :
 fork-lift truck :
 cargo net :
 sniffer dog :
 traps :
 ...
 ...
 ...

4. Vocabulary related to Aviation Security

 unlawful interference :
 terrorist attack :
 hijacking :
 smuggle :
 weapon :
 bomb explosion :
  outlaw :
 security precaution :
 explosive materials :
 explosive detection machine :
 metal detector :
 walk through metal detector :
 suspicious behaviour :
 air rage :
 ...
 ...
 ....
 ...
 ...

5. Vocabulary related to Baggage Handling

 passenger :
 baggage / luggage :
 load :
 unload :
 offload :
 conveyor belt :
 checked baggage :
 transparent plastic :
 flammbale liquid :
 tray :

C. CONVERSATION

Some common expressions used at the security check:

Attracting attention  Hello

Greetings
Asking for information
Giving information
 Excuse me.
 Good morning/afternoon/evening
 Where is the check-in counter for Air Asia Airline?
 Where is the waiting room?
 What time will flight QZ4556 depart?
 Is there a musholla here?
 After you walk out from the metal detector just turn
left, the check-in counter is on the left side.
 The waiting room is on the second floor, Sir.
 May I see your ticket, please? Oh, it will depart at
09.50, Ma’am. You’d better hurry.
 Yes, Sir. There is one on the first floor near the duty-
free shops. And there is also one on the second floor
in the waiting room.
Giving directions  Please queue / stand in line.
 Put your bags on the conveyor belt, please.
 Empty your pocket and put them on this tray.
 Take off your jacket / coat, please.
 Extend your hands, please. Excuse me to do body
search.
 All right, you may go. You can take your baggage.
Clarifying  May I see your ticket and boarding pass, please ?
 Would you please produce your ID Card?
 All right, here you are. Have a nice flight.
Thanking  Thanks.
 Thank you.
 Thank you very much.
Responding to thanks  You’re welcome.
 My pleasure.

Exercise
Put the following expressions in order to make a good dialogue.

A. At the front gate

Thank you.
Here you are. Where is the check-in counter, by the way?
Hello, good morning.
Alright.
Please proceed to the walk through metal detector.
It is on the right side, Sir.
Good morning. May I see your ticket, please?

A : Hello, good morning.

B : Good morning. May I see your ticket, please?
A : Here you are. Where is the check-in counter, by the way?
B : It is on the right side, Sir.
A : Thank you.
B : Please proceed to the walk through metal detector.
A : Alright. All right.

B. At the security check

No, you can wear it.

Okay.
Please put your baggage on this conveyor belt.
Do I have to take my watch off?
Yes, it needs to be put on this tray.
Empty your pocket and put the things on this tray and you go through.
What about my wallet?
A : Please put your baggage on this conveyor belt.
B : Okay.
A : Empty your pocket and put the things on this tray and you go through.
B : What about my wallet?
A : Yes, it needs to be put on this tray.
A : Do I have to take my watch off?
B : No, you can wear it.