Boarding procedures are airline procedures that process passengers and allow them onto the correct aircraft for their destination.
Boarding procedures ensure that only ticketed passengers board the correct aircraft for their destination. Boarding procedures ensure on time departures by taking place within a scheduled time period.
Boarding planning first considers the kind of flight that is being processed. Flight departures can be of two types: one in which an aircraft is coming from another location and proceeding on to its destination or one in which the departure is the flight’s origination point.
Operations departments determine whether the flight is on schedule, what gate will be assigned for the departure, and the expected number of passengers. Passengers are of three types: first, local passengers are those beginning their trip; second, connecting passengers are those arriving on other aircraft to continue their trip on the departing flight; and third, continuing passengers are those arriving and continuing onto the flight’s destinations. If the flight is oversold, or overbooked, oversale procedures are initiated.
Keeping in mind that a departure may involve an arriving aircraft, gate agents report to the assigned gate typically thirty minutes before an aircraft’s arrival or one hour before its departure. They prepare and post signs that indicate departure information such as the flight number, the destination, and the scheduled or adjusted departure time, if necessary.
When passenger counts are low, all of the boarding procedures can be performed by one person. When twenty five or more passengers are expected, it is customary to have two gate agents. Three to four gate agents are needed for flights of larger aircraft in which two to three hundred passengers are expected.
Boarding responsibilities are divided into two functions, known by a variety of titles. The boarding agent, or coordinator, is responsible for all announcements, for the actual taking of tickets and boarding passes from passengers, and for all communication with the crew. The gate, or control, agent is responsible for checking passengers in if needed, for producing all needed reports, and for making the entries that calculate and finalize how many passengers are on board.
Within the hour before departure, passengers begin to arrive at the gate. Some need to be checked in and given their seat assignments. Most already have been checked in at a ticket counter or in their originating location if they are on a connecting flight.
Different aircraft have different boarding requirements and time frames that take into account the aircraft’s size and the number of passengers. A full medium-sized aircraft may take as much time as a half-full large aircraft. Boarding may begin as much as one hour or as little as fifteen minutes before departure.
Boarding begins with a consultation and agreement with the flight crew that all is in order on board the aircraft. Boarding is managed and coordinated by announcements usually made through a public-address system. The first announcements identify the airline, the flight number, the destination, the departure time, and also include certain reminders regarding the size and the number of carryon items allowed. Recognizing that certain passengers have special needs and that certain passengers enjoy the privileges of being preferred customers, the second announcement is called the preboarding announcement.
Row numbers, normally in sets of five, are called to board, starting with the back rows and progressing toward the front. Boarding from the rear rows to the front eliminates congestion on board the aircraft and allows passengers to proceed without interruption to their assigned seats.
After preboarding and while general boarding is conducted, other steps leading to final passenger and departure documentation take place. Almost every airline makes what is called a cutoff announcement twenty minutes prior to departure. Computer entries are then made releasing the advance seat assignments of passengers who have not already checked in. Other entries are then made to assign seats to standby passengers. Standby passengers are of two kinds, revenue and space available.
Exercises
1. You should check the pronunciation of key words. Transcribe the words:
Boarding, passenger, destination, schedule, departure, origination, determine, assign, arrive, initiate, adjust, customary, crew, finalize, revenue
2. Match the words from the texts (1-10) with the definitions (A-J):
| passenger | A | a piece of paper that allows you to travel on a vehicle | |
| assign | B | one that is held in reserve ready for use | |
| departure | C | to give someone a particular job or duty: to require someone to do a particular task | |
| ticket | D | the group of people who operate an airplane | |
| schedule | E | a setting out (as on a new course) | |
| oversell | F | to get into or onto (an airplane, a bus, a train) | |
| gate | G | a person who is traveling from one place to another in a car, bus, train, ship, airplane, etc., and who is not driving or working on it | |
| board | H | a list of the times when airplanes leave or arrive | |
| crew | I | to accept payment or reservations for more seats, tickets, etc., than you have available | |
| standby | J | an area (as at a railroad station or an airport) for departure or arrival |
3. Find in the texts the English equivalents for the following expressions:
(1), an established way of getting into an airplane, (2) a person who is traveling having a piece of paper that allows him to travel, (3) a list of an appointed moment for something to happen, begin, or end, (4) a traveler, whose flight begins with an airplane departure, (5) a traveler, who become joined to somebody else, (6) to allow too many people to buy tickets or to reserve seats, (7) a business representative in an area for departure, (8) a business representative in board of an airplane, (9) an apparatus including a microphone and loudspeakers used for broadcasting, (10) a customer, that gets priority, (11) concentration in a narrow space, (12) a notification about completed boarding, (13) records on setting out on a course, (14) to give seats, (15) travelers, who are held in reserve.
4. Complete the text with the words from the box.
| departing | ticketed | airline |
| destination | gate | connecting |
| oversale | continuing | passengers |
Boarding procedures are (1) procedures that process passengers and allow them onto the correct aircraft for their destination.
Boarding procedures ensure that only (2) passengers board the correct aircraft for their (3). Boarding procedures ensure on time departures by taking place within a scheduled time period.
Operations departments determine whether the flight is on schedule, what (4) will be assigned for the departure, and the expected number of (5). Passengers are of three types: first, local passengers are those beginning their trip; second, (6) passengers are those arriving on other aircraft to continue their trip on the (7) flight; and third, (8) passengers are those arriving and continuing onto the flight’s destinations. If the flight is oversold, or overbooked, (9) procedures are initiated.
5. Answer the following questions. Begin your answers with such introductory phrases as: as far as I know; as far as I remember; to my mind; certainly; it's hard to tell; probably; of course; if I am not mistaken etc.
1) What are boarding procedures intended for?
2) What types of flight departures do you know?
3) What types of passengers do you know?
4) What are duties of gate agents?
5) What happens within the hour before aircraft departure?
6) Why does boarding happen from the rear rows to the front?
7) What happens after preboarding and while general boarding is conducted?
6. Translate the following sentences into English:
1. Посадка пассажиров обеспечивает точное время вылета, поскольку происходит в запланированное время.
2. Службы организации движения определяют, происходит ли полёт по расписанию, какой выход на посадку предназначен для вылета, а также ожидаемое количество пассажиров.
3. Пассажиры бывают трёх видов: во-первых, местные пассажиры – те, кто начинают поездку; во-вторых, пассажиры стыковочных рейсов – те, которые прибывают на другом самолёте, чтобы продолжить путешествие на вылетающем самолёте; и в-третьих, транзитные пассажиры - те, кто прибывают и продолжают полёт до места назначения.
4. Посадка управляется и координируется сообщениями, обычно передаваемыми системой публичного оповещения.
5. Почти каждая авиалиния делает объявление о прекращении посадки за двадцать минут до вылета.
Unit 10 Air shows
MAKS 2013
MAKS 2013 Eleventh International Aviation and Space Salon held from August 27 to September 1, 2013, has become the largest event in the history of aviation salons in Zhukovsky, Moscow region.
MAKS 2013 participants demonstrated a record-breaking scale of commercial operations. During the aviation salon, the industry leaders made contracts, entered into memorandums of understanding and agreements for the supply of aircraft and aviation components for a total amount exceeding $21.2 bln, which is much more than in 2011.
Most deals were struck by home aircraft manufacturers for the supply of civil aircraft. In particular, bookings for MS-21 were supplemented with 82 pieces, Sukhoi Superjet-100 – for 96 machines. The aggregate value of transactions exceeded $9 bln. Besides, arrangements of United Aircraft Corporation and Russian Ministry of Defence in the maintenance of aircraft airworthiness are valued at some $3 bln.
Agreements of intent to purchase 100 Bombardier Q400 NextGen airplanes were entered into by two Russian leasing companies; transactions are valued at $3.4 bln.
Leasing companies also considerably increased their bookings. VEB-Leasing and Ilyushin Finance Co. (IFC) signed contracts and memorandums of understanding with airlines for 32 MS-21, 6 SSJ-100 and 15 Tu-204SM airplanes (plus five airplanes as an option). Their total value exceeded $3.8 bln. IFC also signed a number of agreements for the supply of An-148 / -158, Bombardier CS300 and Bombardier Q400 NextGen airplanes.
A continuous increase in the number of participants is the evidence of dynamic development of the home aviation industry and strengthening of international co-operation. “As you know, this year, a great number of companies exhibit; there are more than a thousand of them, including such global tycoons as Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, Siemens and other key players. Russian aviation holdings also exhibit, which is definitely very important to us”, – underlined D.A. Medvedev in his speech. The salon of 2013 features broad global representation: 287 foreign exhibitors from 44 countries took part in the exhibition. Expositions covered the following area: indoor pavilions (net area) – 19,385 sq.m, open area – 7,352 sq.m, 97 chalets with a total area of 9,300 sq.m, static stand – more than 140,000 sq.m.
Despite adverse weather conditions, Interdepartmental Supervisory Committee and Flight Directorate of Gromov Research Institute FSUE delivered a spectacular and eventful demo program of MAKS 2013. 256 aircraft including 49 foreign ones were displayed in the sky and at the static stand. Zhukovsky skyline featured 116 aircraft, including 60 airplanes and helicopters from 9 aerobatic teams. 176 aircraft were demonstrated at the static stand.
Domestic novelties of the Salon included Il-76MD-90A heavy military transport aircraft, Sukhoi Superjet-100LR regional liner, Mi-171A2, Ka-62 helicopters with Turbomeca engines, Mi-28UB operational trainer. Airbus A380 world’s largest passenger airplane aroused much interest of the public.
From among the events scheduled and included into the Business Program of MAKS 2013, 70 were held, including the International Aviation Congress held for the first time, scientific and technical and workshop conferences, workshops and round-table discussions (some with foreign companies as participants) as well as presentations of various projects and programs in aircraft engineering, history of aviation and social sciences. More than 4,500 specialists took part in the Business Program. The exhibition was covered by 3.5 th. journalists from more than 900 Russian and foreign mass media.
The Salon of 2013 drew both aviation professionals and amateurs. Despite unfavorable weather conditions, the total amount of visitors exceeded 350 th. people this year. During the first three days, some 70 th. specialists visited the Salon.
Exercises
1 You should check the pronunciation of key words. Transcribe the words:
aviation salon, manufacturer, airworthiness, evidence, development, strengthening, exhibit, aerobatic, amateur, exhibition
2. Match the words from the texts (1-10) with the definitions (A-J):
| salon | A | to make arrangements for (someone) to do, use, or have something at a later time | |
| contract | B | the upkeep of property or equipment | |
| supply | C | a usually brief written message or report from one person or department in a company to another | |
| book | D | the process by which something is provided to a person, place, etc. | |
| maintenance | E | an annual exhibition | |
| transaction | F | a class or series of classes in which a small group of people learn the methods and skills | |
| memorandum | G | a legal agreement between people, companies | |
| exhibit | H | a business deal: an occurrence in which goods, services, or money are passed from one person, account, etc., to another | |
| workshop | I | a person who does something for pleasure, not as a job | |
| amateur | J | to show publicly especially for purposes of competition or demonstration |
3. Find in the texts the English equivalents for the following expressions:
(1), part, (2) total amount, (3) when an airplane is fit for flying, (4) an arrangement, contract, etc., by which people agree about what is to be done, (5) a top leader, (6) an event at which objects are put out in a public space for people to look at, (7) the apparent juncture of earth and sky, (8) difficult and exciting movements of an airplane often performed for entertainment, (9) airplane meant for training and execution of military operations, (10) aircraft, which carries travelers, (11) a planned piece of work that has a specific purpose (such as to make something new) and that usually requires a lot of time, (12) an activity in which someone shows, describes, or explains something to a group of people, (13) the act of talking about something with another person or a group of people, (14) the work of designing and creating large structures or new products or systems by using scientific methods, (15) engaged in by persons receiving financial return.
4. Complete the text with the words from the box
| understanding | salon | airworthiness |
| bookings | bookings | manufacturers |
| agreements | value | supply |
MAKS 2013 participants demonstrated a record-breaking scale of commercial operations. During the aviation (1), the industry leaders made contracts, entered into memorandums of understanding and agreements for the (2) of aircraft and aviation components for a total amount exceeding $21.2 bln, which is much more than in 2011.
Most deals were struck by home aircraft (3) for the supply of civil aircraft. In particular, (4) for MS-21 were supplemented with 82 pieces, Sukhoi Superjet-100 – for 96 machines. The aggregate (5) of transactions exceeded $9 bln. Besides, arrangements of United Aircraft Corporation and Russian Ministry of Defence in the maintenance of aircraft (6) are valued at some $3 bln.
Leasing companies also considerably increased their (7). VEB-Leasing and Ilyushin Finance Co. (IFC) signed contracts and memorandums of (8) with airlines for 32 MS-21, 6 SSJ-100 and 15 Tu-204SM airplanes (plus five airplanes as an option). Their total value exceeded $3.8 bln. IFC also signed a number of (9) for the supply of An-148 / -158, Bombardier CS300 and Bombardier Q400 NextGen airplanes.
5. Answer the following questions. Begin your answers with such introductory phrases as: as far as I know; as far as I remember; to my mind; certainly; it's hard to tell; probably; of course; if I am not mistaken etc.
1) What is “MAKS”?
2) What was remarkable in MAKS 2013?
3) What were most deals struck for and by whom?
4) What were the activities of leasing companies?
5) What included a demo program of MAKS 2013?
6) What domestic novelties were demonstrated during the Salon?
7) What scheduled events were held on MAKS?
6. Translate the following sentences into English:
1. Во время работы авиасалона ведущие предприятия заключали контракты, подписывали протоколы о намерениях и соглашения на поставку самолётов и комплектующих на общую сумму, превышающую 21.2 млрд. долларов.
2. Большинство сделок были заключены отечественными производителями на поставку гражданских самолётов.
3. Непрерывное увеличение количества участников - свидетельство динамичного развития отечественной авиационной промышленности и интенсификации международного сотрудничества.
4. Несмотря на неблагоприятные погодные условия, Межведомственный комитет по надзору и управлению полётами при Лётно-исследовательском института имени М. М. Громова представил яркую зрелищную программу МАКС 2013.
5. В рамках деловой программы МАКС 2013 было проведено 70 мероприятий, среди них – Международный авиационный конгресс, проводившийся в первый раз, научные и технические конференции, семинары и круглые столы (некоторые с участием иностранных компаний), а также – презентации различных проектов и программ в области авиастроения, истории авиации и общественных наук.
Supplementary reading
MODERN FIGHTERS
MODERN FIGHTERS ARE AMONG the wonders of modern technology. These astonishing machines can typically reach speeds well in excess of Mach 2; climb around 10,000m (30,000ft) a minute to an operational altitude of about 16km (10 miles); execute high-speed jinks and twirls in close combat; and, of course, operate by day and night in all weathers.
Reliable engines, improved design, and fly-by-wire controls have made these aircraft much safer to fly than earlier high-performance jets. Immense engine power – up to 22,700kg (50,000lb) total thrust – means that they have been able to grow heavier without losing out on performance. Fitted with an array of radar and infrared devices able to identify enemy aircraft at distance and warn against incoming missiles, their own missile systems are able to engage targets well beyond visual range. They are also very expensive. Economics dictate that even the most dedicated air-superiority fighters end up being used in the ground-attack role too.
The US Air Force’s perennial demand for a lightweight fighter produced, in the 1980s, the F-16. Fast, extremely manoeuvrable and relatively cheap, over 2,500 were produced. The F-16A was limited to the daylight interceptor role and most of these aircraft have now been transferred to the Air National Guard. The F-16C has greater all-weather and attack capability and is regarded as a fighterbomber.
The F-16’s many export customers, who include Belgium, Holland, and Israel, use it as an attack aircraft.
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23M “Flogger” The MiG-23 was the first Soviet swing-wing aircraft, and its main purpose was to take on Phantoms and other Western attack aircraft. To do this, it carried more interception radar and so was bigger than its predecessor, the MiG-21. Fitting variable-geometry wings reduced the take-off and landing run, so the aeroplane could still use small front-line airfields in the traditional Soviet manner. MiG-23s served with the Soviet Union and its allies from 1973 until the 1990s.
Engine 12,500kg (27,512lb) thrust Khachaturov turbojet
Wingspan 14m (45ft 9in)
Length 15.7m (51ft 7in)
Top speed 2,490kph (1,546mph) (Mach 2.35)
Crew 1
Armament 1 x 23mm twin-barrel cannon; 10 x air-to-air missiles
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29 “Fulcrum”
The US Navy’s and Marine Corps’ strike aircraft since 1981, the Hornet (NASA safety support aircraft shown) has been given the unusual dual designation “F/A”, as it can be used as both a fighter and an attack aircraft.
Though slower than the F-14, its small size makes it extremely manoeuvrable. Formations of attack F/A-18s can defend themselves en-route to their target and chase enemy fighters after they have dropped their bomb load.
The MiG-29, with the now familiar layout of twin tails with twin underslung engines, uses the fuselage between the engines as part of the lift area, giving it amazing manoeuvrability. Like the Su-27, it was designed to counter the newest American aircraft – F-15, F-16, and F-18. In service since 1984, the MiG demonstrated its abilities by performing “tail-slides” at air shows during the 1990s – something no Western aircraft could do.
| Engines 2 x 8,300kg (18,268lb)thrust Klimov RD-33 turbofan Wingspan 11.4m (37ft 3in) Length 17.3m (56ft 10in) Top speed 2,450kph (1,521mph) (Mach 2.3) Crew 1 Armament 1 x 30mm cannon; 6 x AA-10 air-to-air missiles |
Tupolev Tu-154
By the mid-1990s, the Tu-154, with approximately 900 built, was the standard medium-range airliner throughout the former USSR. Designed in the mid-1960s with the ability to operate from the more rural areas of Russia, the first tri-jet 154 flew in October 1968. The improved Tu-154M appeared in 1982, with quieter and more economical engines and continued in production into the late 1990s. The type is currently being replaced by the twin-jet Tu-204.
| Engine 3 x 10,610kgp (23,380lbst) Aviadvigatel turbofan Wingspan 37.6m (123ft 3in) Length 47.9m (157ft 2in) Cruising Speed 950kph (590mph) Passengers 180 Crew 3–4 |
Airbus A320-200
Aimed at the 150-seat market, the advanced A320 first flew in February 1987. With its fully computerized cockpit and fly-by-wire control system, the design set the standard by which all future airliners were judged. Based on the A320, Airbus developed a further two jets: the A319 (up to 120 passengers) and the A321 (up to 220 passengers). All three remain in production.
| Engine 2 x 11,350kgp (25,000lbst) CFM56-5A1 turbofan Wingspan 33.9m (111ft 3in) Length 37.6m (123ft 3in) Cruising speed 903kph (550mph) Passengers 150–179 Crew 2 |
