Captain Tom Yates, a top pilot, answers your questions.

1) I have flown a couple of times and each time I got nervous when the flight attendant started talking about life jackets! Also, i was very afraid not long after take-off. The engines seemed to stop and I thought we were falling. I have been thinking about this a lot recently. Is this normal?

 

2)I'm getting married soon and during the last few months, my girlfriend Mary and I have been looking at places to go for our honeymoon. Mary has found a lovely place in Cuba and she has been telling all our friends about it for weeks. There's just one problem - I've never been on an aeroplane before. I get claustrophobic and I'm terrified!

 

3) I used to fly when I was younger and didn't use to be afraid. I know flying is one of the safest forms of transport and I have done a lot to encourage my children to fly. But in the last few years, I've been getting more and more frightened about flying. In fact, I've missed many opportunities to see the world because of this. My children think I'm crazy! Am I?

@ No, you're not, you're just very imaginative! Many older people have written to me with this problem. Because you're older, you're more aware of things that can go wrong and this lead to physical tension. So, to stop this process, keep your mind busy - buy lots of magazines for the flight and take a walkman with several tapes - this will help you to stop imagining disasters!

@ We have been running a strict no-smoking policy for years and this has improved air quality on our flights for all our customers. So, when you start to get nervous, the best thing to do is to have some nicotine chewing gum. Whatever you do, don't smoke in the toilets!

@ It’s natural to be nervous when you do something for the first time. But let me tell you something – I wouldn't do this job if it wasn't safe, and I’ve been flying planes for over fifteen years! As far the claustrophobia, get a seat near the aisle or near an emergency exit - there's more room there. So don't worry - enjoy your honeymoon!

@ Yes, it is. After we have reached about 1,000 feet, we always reduce power to reduce engine noise – we have been doing this ever since the mid-90s to comply with noise pollution laws.

 

3. Put the dialogue in the correct order.

Agent: Midday, 14th August. I'll check the timetable... I'm afraid there aren't any flights at midday.

Agent: Good morning. Can I help you?

Agent: Would you like to book the 5.15 flight now?

Client: Good morning. Yes, I would like to book a flight from Athens to Crete.

Client: I see. When is the next one?

Agent: Right. Could you tell me what day you want to go?

Agent: At 5 15 in the afternoon. Is that OK?

Client: On 14^th August At about midday if possible

Client: At 5.15? Yes, that's fine.

Client: Yes, please. I've got my credit card.

Agent: Now, can I have your details, please?

 

 

Read and translate the text.

At the 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. Her baggage was checked in / weighed on the scales. Pat's suitcases were very heavy, so she had to pay an excess baggage charge. Next she was given a boarding pass. 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 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 158 to Tokyo now boarding at Gate Three." and she goes to board (get on) her plane.

5. Choose the right word from the text to complete the sentences.

1. When you arrive at the airport you first go to the___ counter.

2 You have to have a _______ pass so that you can get on the plane.

3. After the security check, you wait in the___ lounge.

4. You can buy many things cheaply at the___ shop.

5. When you hear the announcement, you go to the________ to board your

plane

 

6. Complete each sentence by using a word from the box.

departure lounge	immigration officer	check-in desk
departure gate	security guard	duty free
Board	departures board	hand luggage
Check	excess baggage	check in
Move	passengers	runway
trolley	take off	conveyor belt
announcement	on board

When travelling by air you have to get to the airport early in order to (1) __________ about an hour before your flight. If you have a lot of luggage, you can put it on a (2)__________and push it to the (3)____________where someone will (4) ____________your ticket and weigh your luggage. If you have (5) ___________. it can be expensive. Your heavy luggage is put on a (6) ___________and carried away. A light bag is classed as (7)________________ and you can take it with you on to the plane. An (8)______ looks at your passport and a (9)__________ checks your hand luggage before you go into the (10) ___________ to wait till your flight is called. If you want to, you can buy some cheap (11) ___________ goods here. Then you see on the (12) ___________ or you hear an (13) __________ ___________that you must (14) ___________your plane. You go through the (15) ___________. When all the (17) ___________are (18) ___________, and when the captain and his crew are ready in the cockpit, the plane begins to (19) ___________to the end of the (20)___________. Finally, permission is received from the control tower and the plane moves faster and faster in order to (21) ___________.