4.8 Supplementary Reading Texts Airport

Pat arrived at the airport two hours ago to catch her plane to Tokyo. At the check-in counter, a ticket agent looked at her ticket and her passport, and her baggage was checked-in and weighed on the scales. Pat’s suitcases were very heavy, so she had to pay an excess baggage charge (amount of money for additional weight). Next she was given a boarding pass (a ticket that allows her to get on the plane). The boarding pass has a seat number written on it, and Pat was given a window seat in the non-smoking section. Her suitcases were labeled and sent off to be loaded into the hold of the airplane.

While waiting for the flight to be called Pat goes to the newsstand to buy a newspaper. Then she goes through the security check, where her carry-on luggage (the bags she is keeping with her on the plane) is searched. Then Pat goes into the duty-free shop where she has a chance to buy some things cheaply. The goods she buys here are cheap because they are not taxed.

In the departure lounge, Pat joins the other passengers who are sitting and waiting until it is time for their flight to depart. After a few minutes Pat hears the announcement: “Flight 156 to Tokyo is now boarding at Gate Three”, and she goes to board (get on) her plane.

Answer the questions.

1. When did Pat arrive at the airport?

2. Where did the ticket agent look at her ticket and her passport?

3. Why did Pat have to pay an excess baggage charge?

4. Was she given a seat in the smoking or non-smoking section?

5. Where did Pat go to buy some things cheaply?

6. Where did Pat buy a newspaper?

7. Why were the goods she bought cheap?

8. Where was she sitting and waiting for her flight to depart?

9. When did Pat hear the announcement?

From the History of Hangars

The term “airship hangar” or “airship dock” is used to denote a building or other structure where aircraft are housed for construction, repair, storage or overhaul purposes. Hangars were used only for major repair and overhaul or for protection from severe weather conditions. The first hangars were probably the tents which were used to cover aircraft. Although they were later reinforced by wooden frames, the construction of such hangars proved to be quite impractical because they easily caught fire. Other early hangars were constructed like garages with large doors at one end. They were economical to build but also caught fire easily.

During the 20’s the improvements in the hangars design resulted in the construction of larger hangars made of metal, cinder blocks and poured concrete. Today most airports have large concrete or metal hangars for airliners and large transport aircraft.

One of the most important sides of the airport work is the actual provision of building and hangars to house the airplanes and necessary equipment. They have to be carefully and properly designed for this job. Steel and concrete are used for new flight hangars today. The layout and number of the hangar designs depend largely on the use, type and dimensions (length, width and thickness) of the machines. The character of the aircraft maintenance, overhaul and the geographical position of the airport influence the hangar design to some extent.

Any maintenance hangars should meet the following demands:

• convenience of aircraft maintenance and overhaul;

• aircraft manoeuverability;

• it should give possibility to carry out maintenance operations to a number of aircraft at a time.

Answer the questions.

1. When is the term “airship hangar” used?

2. How were the first hangars used?

3. How were other early hangars constructed?

4. What kind of hangars do most airports have today?

5. What is one of the most important sides of the airport work?

6. What do the layout and number of the hangars designs depend on?

7. What demands should maintenance hangars meet?