Answer the following questions:

Apart from aircraft what other vehicles move around the airport
What makes an airport such a potentially dangerous place?
What examples of mistakes made by pilots, drivers and controllers have you
encountered?

Label these signs and markings from international airports with

the definitions below. What is the difference between a marking
and a sign?

• Runway holding position sign

• Outbound destination sign
• Taxiway ending marking
• No entry sign
• Runway exit sign
• ILS critical sign
• Runway centerline marking
• Taxi location sign
• In pairs, look at the airport chart and brainstorm as many different airport areas,
buildings and equipment as you can.

• Describe what these areas, buildings and equipment are used for.

• Which are most important for pilots and controllers to be familiar with?
 Match the words in the box with their opposites in the table.

• Out from across near

• Outgoing
• Into aft on
• From
• Under
ahead out of
• Along
• Inbound
• Forward back to outbound
• Far
• Behind incoming over
• Off
• Right left to

Complete the sentences using the words in the exercise above.

1. They are lining up ___on_____ runway 09.

2. There is an A340 stopped ___________ of us on Taxiway C8.
3. All _____________ flights will be landing on Runway 19 Right.
4. The B787 is taxiing from Terminal A__________ Runway 01 Left via Taxiway B
5. The B744 is backtracking ___________ Runway 01R.
6. IB3268 is taxiing _______________ to the apron; they have an electrical problem.
7. You can’t see Gate 38 from where you are. It’s on the _____________ side of the
terminal.
8. I can see the green navigation light on the ____________ wing tip.
9. Cross ____________ Runway 01 Right on Charlie to reach the maintenance area.
Complete the sentences using the adverbs in the box.

severely almost a little very soon only just hard

1. Taxi with caution, as the airport is _________ congested.

2. boarding is _________ completed. We should be ready to push back in five
minutes.
3. The ground crews are working very __________ to make sure we get away on
time.
4. Some of the passengers were late arriving at the gate; we’ll need ________ more
time.
5. We have __________ closed the doors and are ready to depart.
6. When the servicing truck reversed into the RH engine, it __________ damaged the
cowling.
7. There is ____________ one container waiting to be loaded.
8. Can you vacate your stand as ___________ as possible?
In pairs, brainstorm words to describe objects, situations and
events at the airport.

Condition Color Size Shape Feature Material

Closed Blue Large Rectangular Dark Rubber

Congested Black Wide Square Heavy Glass

Look for examples for each description of these incident types.

Bogged down Landing gear, aircraft
Cut
Flat
Scratched
Broken
Damaged Landing gear, wingtip, door
Frozen
Smoking
Broken down
Defective
Inoperative GPU, ASU, lighting, radio
Seeping Oil, fuel, tank, union, connection, pipe
Burst
Deflated
Jammed
Snowbound
Cancelled
Delayed
Leaking Oil, fuel, tank, union, connection, pipe
Spilled
Collapsed
Dented Leading Edge, air intake, fuselage, skin
Lost
Stuck
Congested
Failed
Missing
Twisted
Contamined
Faulty
Overflowing
Unserviceable
Cracked
On fire
Overheated
Worn

Complete the sentences using words from the last exercise. Note
that may be more tan one possible correct answer.

• The First Officer has severe food poisoning and, as there is no relief crew, the flight
has been cancelled / delayed
• A unión of the hydraulic lines is ____________________________ and
maintenance is replacing a seal.
• The Embraer left Taxiway N and its nose gear is _________________________ on
the Grass.
• The GPU atour stand is __________________________________ and we are
waiting for a replacement.
• The F/O noticed that the flaps were ________________________________ we’ll
need de-icing before departure.
• The catering truck hit the fuselage while it was moving into position and the door
sill is slightly ________________________________________.
• One of our main gear tyres is showing only 40 psi. It is
__________________________ and will have to be replaced.
• We flew through an electric storm during descent and four of our static dischargers
are __________________________.