Key to Exercise 6

a) – 3	g) – 4	l) – 6
b) – 12	h) – 7	m) – 11
c) – 13	i) – 9	n) – 16
d) – 1	j) – 8	o) – 15
e) – 2	k) – 10	p) – 5
f) – 14

U N I T 32

Learning points: Reading comprehension: London Heathrow. Departing Flights at Heathrow, Arriving Flights at Heathrow.

Review points: There is (are).

Words with opposite meaning (2)

1. Read text 1. London heathrow

London Heathrow is a particular busy and complicated airport, handling more international traffic than any other airport in the world. There are runways which can all be used from opposite ends. The two principal runways are parallel to each other, and face east/west. They are designated as 27/09, meaning that the heading of the runway is 270° (to the nearest 10°) in one direction and 090° when used in the opposite direction. As there are two parallel runways they are known as ‘Left’ or ‘Right’, as viewed by a pilot arriving or departing. Before 2 July 1987 the two main runways at Heathrow were designated as 28 and 10 but because of small annual changes in the magnetic bearing of the North Pole the runway directions are now closer to 270/090 than 280°/100.

In normal operating conditions the ‘27’ runways are used (one for departures, one for arrivals) since they face the prevailing winds. By local agreement runway ‘switching’ takes place every day at around 15.00 hr (local) thus giving the residents under the flight paths some relief from the almost continuous streams of flight.

2. Answer the questions to text 1.

1. How many runways are there at Heathrow airport?

2. How are the principal runways designated?

3. Why were the two main runways at Heathrow designated 28 and 10 before 2 July, 1987?

4. When does runway ‘switching’ take place and why?

3. Read text 2. Departing flights at heathrow

Air Traffic Control is naturally quite complex and detailed. Aircraft requiring clearance to start will contact the Ground Movement Planner in the Visual Control Room on 121.97 MHz. Clearance to start, together with details of the departure route, will be given, and the pilot will be handed on to the Ground Movement Controller on 121.9 MHz, who authorises the pushback from the aircraft stand and gives taxi clearance to the holding point of the departure runway in use. As the holding point is approached, the pilot is asked to monitor the Air Departure Controller on 118.5 MHz, who gives clearance to enter the active runway, line-up and eventually take-off.

Very soon after the aircraft is airborne the pilot is instructed to contact the London TMA controller at West Drayton for onward clearance. (The frequency varies according to the route to be followed.)