Gaining Public Acceptance

The second major issue for automated passenger flight is gaining acceptance by the flying public, and on analysis, this may be the biggest barrier.

The major problems concern the psychology of flying. In order to convince the public that UAVs are safe, it would be necessary to compare their performance with that of piloted aircraft. To do this, airlines and manufacturers would have to admit the real risks in air travel today, and this is not something most travellers want to know about.

For example, pilot and controller errors are responsible for more than 50% of air-travel deaths. Many accidents occur even though the technology has provided a warning, which humans have then ignored. Autopilots could also fail, but it is likely that several years of unpiloted freight flights would demonstrate the ability of automation to reduce the impact of human error.

However, arguing that automation would reduce pilot error also means talking about other issues in air safety—a subject both the industry and passengers are happy to ignore. For example, passengers take great comfort from having life jackets aboard, but the reality is that an emergency landing on water is almost impossible given the design of airliners. Similarly, it is widely accepted that rear-facing seats are safer in an emergency landing, but again the reality is that most passengers prefer to face forward. So, both airlines and passengers seem happy to pretend that safety has been maximised, whereas there is obviously a difference between feeling and being safe.

Clearly, convincing the public that pilotless planes are safer is a difficult task. However, one possibility is to phase in automated flights, using a single human pilot and an autopilot until the public accepted this as normal and safe. Gradual changes seem to work well, as shown by the steady replacement in recent years of four-engined aircraft with twin-engined aircraft on long routes. Once considered risky, most passengers are now comfortable with this. At first twin-engined aircraft were required to stay within 60 minutes flying time of an airport in the event of an engine failure. This restriction has been eased as the twin-engined safety record has grown, first to180 and then to 207 minutes.

A final factor affecting automated flight is political. One result of the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington is that a number of aviation experts believe future designs should allow a direct "master" control of aircraft from the ground in the event of a hijacking. Passengers might be happy at first to accept an autopilot to prevent terrorism, and soon enough they would come to accept automated flight as normal.

Overall then, the pilotless passenger aircraft will soon be technically possible and will continue to be economically attractive for airlines. However, the real issue is gaining acceptance of such a change by the travelling public. It will take time and education for most people to feel comfortable hurtling through the air at more than 400 knots in an aluminium tube with no "driver".

WORD LIST

admit признавать, допуска

affect воздействовать, влиять

argue [7A:gju:] спорить, аргументировать

automation [6O:tE7meiS(E)n] автоматизация

clearly ясно, очевидно, несомненно

compare сравнивать

concern [kEn7sE:n] касаться, иметь отношение

convince убеждать, уверять

ease [i:z] ослаблять

emergency landing аварийная посадка^;

error [7erE] ошибка, промах

gain public acceptance [Ek7septEns] завоевать общественное одобрение

gradual [7grXd3uEl] постепенный

hijacking угон самолета

hurtle [hE:tl] пролетать, нестись со свистом

impact влияние, толчок

obviousl y очевидно, явно

occur [E7kE:] происходить, случаться

on analysis в ходе анализа

overal l [7EuvErO:l] в общем, в целом

performance [pE7fO:mEns] исполнение, характеристика

phase in постепенно вводить

pretend прикидываться, делать вид

prevent предотвращать

provide a warning обеспечить предупреждение

reduce [ri7dju:s] уменьшать, сокращать

replacement [ripleismEnt] замещение, замена

restriction ограничение

steady прочный, непрерывный, постоянный

tube труба

whereas тогда как

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the second major issue for automated passenger flight?

2. The major problems concern the psychology of flying, don't they?

3. Is it possible to convince the public that UAVs are safe?

4. What would airlines and manufacturers have to admit?

5. Who is responsible for more than 50% of air-travel deaths?

6. Why do many accidents occur?

7. What could several years of unpiloted freight flights demonstrate?

8. Do you agree that automation would reduce pilot error?

9. What are other issues in air safety that both the industry and passengers ignore?

10. What can you say about air safety nowadays? Has it been maximized?

11. Is there any difference between feeling and being safe?

12. Convincing the public that pilotless planes are safer is a difficult task, isn't it?

13. What is the way to make the public accept this as normal and safe?

14. Can you add some other ways of gaining acceptance by the flying public?

15. Comment on the steady replacement in recent years of four-engined aircraft with twin-engined aircraft on long routes.

16. What is a political factor affecting automated flight?

17. Can future designs of pilotless aircraft prevent terrorism and hijacking according to aviation experts' beliefs?

18. What is the perspective of the pilotless passenger aircraft?

² T9.10

At present there are only two ways to get into space - you either have to be an astronaut or very rich. Countries such as the US and Russia have space programs, but you need to be highly qualified and very determined if you want to become an astronaut. Only a few of the thousands of applicants ever make it through the training and selection program. Alternatively, if you have the money and are fit enough, you may be able to buy a place on a space journey, as the US multi-millionaire, Mike Melvill did in 2004. But soon there may be another way.

Asif Mahsood is a 14 year old Pakistani with big plans. He dreams of getting a job in space, but hopes he doesn't need to become an astronaut. And the idea is not so fantastic. Many experts believe that the travel industry will be revolutionised during the next few decades by the development of space holidays!

Most people would know about the space stations that are already circling the Earth. These are used for research and are manned by professional astronauts. But the time is not far away when a space station could be built, not for research purposes, but for commercial purposes. A holiday in space would not be cheap, but there are probably already plenty of people who would be prepared to pay. Can you imagine staying in a hotel in space?

This is where Asifs dream comes in. He wants to be the manager of the world's first orbiting hotel. How will people get to such a hotel? It is likely that rocket ships will provide the transport. They could be launched from the Earth's surface, or even from a carrier aircraft high in the atmosphere. The space hotel will be designed with a landing platform for the rocket ship. The passengers could then move into the hotel through a large tube connected to the hotel entrance. This would be necessary because there is no gravity in space. However, inside the space hotel there would need to be a system creating artificial gravity, so that guests could move around normally.

Naturally, if hotels are built in space, there will also be new jobs in space. Guests will need all the normal services found in a hotel on Earth, but there will also be some new possibilities. For example, all sorts of recreation activities could be designed to take advantage of the zero gravity conditions in space. Being able to float around a room, or bounce off the walls and ceiling would be very attractive for tourists looking for a new experience. Games of three-dimensional football, basketball or volleyball would certainly be very interesting. The hotel would also have telescopes to look out on the universe, and to look back at the Earth below.

A space hotel will need to have other facilities that are not necessary in normal hotels. It would be more like a small city in some ways, with its own hospital, communications system, police force and fire department.

Asif is not sure at this stage what qualifications he will need to reach his dream job in space. In the meantime, he is going to keep studying hard at school so that he can find a job working in one of the big international hotels in Lahore or Karachi. He wants to qualify in hotel management and continue to study business administration. After all, hotels are much the same wherever they are located, so Asif believes that the best preparation for a job in space will be gaining plenty of experience working in "Earth" hotels.

The whole idea of hotels in space may sound a little like science fiction, but 30 years ago technology such as mobile video phones and the Internet seemed to be just a crazy dream, whereas today they are a normal part of everyday life, and it is hard to imagine a world without them.

WORD LIST

alternatively как альтернатива

applicant претендент, конкурсант

artificial [6Ati7fi(E)l] искусственный

astronaut [7XstrEnO:t] астронавт

be manned by пилотируемый (человеком)

bounce off [ bAuns ] отскакивать

carrier [7kXriE] aircraft транспортный самолет

circle [7sE:kl] вращаться

come in пригодиться, оказаться актуальным

create создавать, творить

determined решительный, непоколебимый

dimensional [dai7menSnEl] имеющий измерение; пространственный

entrance вход

experience опыт

facilities возможности, условия, приспособления

fire department пожарное отделение

fit здоровый, сильный, достойный

float around плыть по воздуху, проноситься

gain experience приобрести опыт

get into space попасть в космос

gravity [7grXviti] сила тяжести

highly qualified [7kwPlifaid] высоко квалифицированный

imagine вообразить, представить

in the meantime тем временем

launch [lO:ntS] начинать, отправляться

look out on иметь вид, выходить на что-либо.

make through добиться успеха

naturally разумеется, конечно

orbiting орбитальный

police force полицейский отряд

qualify [7kwPlifai] приобретать какую-либо специальность

reach достигнуть

recreation [6rekri7eiSn] activity развлечения

research purpose цель исследования

revolutionize [6revE7lu:SEnaiz] видоизменить

rocket ship реактивный корабль

science fiction научная фантастика

selection program программа отбора

surface [7sE:fis] поверхность

take advantage of воспользоваться чем-л.

tube труба

universe [7ju:nivE:s] вселенная

whereas тогда как

QUESTIONS:

1. How many ways are there to get into space at present? What are they?

2. Do you need to be determined if you want to become an astronaut?

3. Do many applicants make it through the training and selection program?

4. Is it possible to buy a place on a space journey?

5. Who was on a space journey in 2004?

6. There is another way of getting into space, isn't there?

7. What is Asif’s dream?

8. How will the travel industry be revolutionized during the next few decades according to experts' opinion?

9. What are the space stations that are already circling the Earth used for?

10. Are there any space stations not for research purposes, but for commercial purposes at present?

11. Do you believe in the idea of staying in a hotel in space?

12. How will people get to such a hotel?

13. How will this space hotel be designed?

14. What new jobs will there be in space if such hotels are built there?

15. What sorts of recreation activities can you imagine there?

16. What other facilities should a space hotel have that are not necessary in normal hotels?

17. What is the best preparation for a job in space according to Asif’s opinion?

18. Do you believe in the whole idea of hotels in space or does it sound a little like science fiction?

² T9.11

Boeing Commercial Airplanes has recently announced details of its new airplane product - the Boeing 787 'Dreamliner'. The company has described the 787 as "super-efficient". There will be 3 different versions of the aircraft, carrying between 220 and 300 passengers, and capable of operating on routes of up to 8,500 miles (15,700 kilometres). It is only medium sized, with a length of 56m, a wingspan of 58.8m and a height of 17.4m.

There are a number of reasons for the "super-efficient" description of this new plane. First, it can provide airlines with a medium sized aircraft that is capable of flying distances previously only possible in larger planes such as the 747 or the A380. Second, it will be able to land at fairly small regional airports because it is much smaller than these larger aircraft. This will reduce the need for transfers in getting people to their destinations. Third, Boeing claim the plane will use around 80% of the fuel required by similar existing mid-sized airliners, and this will have environmental benefits. Despite the fuel efficiency, the 787 will be able to travel as fast as today's quickest wide-bodied craft (Mach 0.85). Finally, the 787 is designed to effectively carry 45% more cargo, and passenger comfort will also be improved.

Production will begin in 2006, the first flight is expected in 2007 entering into service in 2008. Numerous large airlines have already placed advance orders with Boeing.

WORD LIST

announce объявлять

capable способный

cargo [7kA:gEu] груз

claim требовать, заявлять, утверждать

describe описывать

despite несмотря на, кроме

destination [6desti7neiSn] место назначение

distance расстояние

enter into service входить в сферу обслуживания

environmental [in6vairEn7mentl] benefits экологические выгоды

existing [ig7zistiN] существующий

fairly [7feEli] довольно, весьма

fuel топливо

fuel efficiency [in7fiSnsi] топливная эффективность

height [hait] высота

improve улучшать

length длина

numerous [7njum:ErEs] многочисленный

operate on route работа на маршруте (пилотирование на маршруте)

place advance [Ed7vA:ns] order делать предварительный заказ

previously [7pri:viEsli] предварительно, ранее

provide обеспечивать

reduce уменьшать, сокращать

similar подобный, схожий

superefficient суперэффективный

transfer [7trXnsfE:] пересадка

version [7vE:Sn] версия, вариант

wingspan [7wiNspXn] размах крыла

QUESTIONS:

1. Details of what new airplane product has Boeing Commercial Airplanes recently announced?

2. How has the company described the 747?

3. How many versions of the aircraft will there be?

4. What are the characteristics of the new aircraft?

5. What are the reasons for the description of this new plane?

6. The 747 will be able to travel as fast as today's quickest wide-bodied craft, won't it?

7. Has the company improved passenger comfort or not?

8. When will production begin and when is the first flight expected?

9. Who has already placed advance orders with Boeing?

UNIT 10

² Т10.1

A: What are you doing at the moment?

B: Nothing much, why?

A: How about a quick cup of coffee and a chat?

B: Sounds good.

A: OK, let's go.

A: Susan, what are your plans for next week?

B: Next week? Umm, I've got to finish this presentation for Catherine, then I've got the sales report to do, why?

A: Well I just thought perhaps you'd like to go to that conference in Adelaide.

B: Oh, I wish I could, but I can't, I've got too much to do.

A: Fine, no problem at all. I'll ask Leslie.

A: Lee, are you busy right now?

B: Mmm, sort of. What is it?

A: Well, aah, would you like to come to my graduation tomorrow?

B: Oh yes, I'd love to! Where is it?

A: In the Level 2 hall at 11 o'clock.

B: Sure - I'll be there!

WORD LIST

chat [tSXt] болтовня

sales report [7seilz ri7pO:t] отчёт по продажам

sort of [sO:t 6Ev] вроде того

graduation [6grXdju7eiSn] окончание учебного заведения

level [7levEl] этаж

² T10.2

Interview 1: The inexperienced pilot

Interviewer (Jennifer): Hi Klaus, looking forward to the interview?

Pilot (Klaus): Hi, Jennifer, and yes I am actually - I love talking.

Jennifer: Call me Jennie; I like to be pretty informal. What I want to do today is find out a bit about your new job; what you have to do and how you're getting along. So, you start talking, and if I need to clarify anything I'll jump in. OK?

Klaus: No problem. Well, where do I begin? Umm, my name is Klaus Bergmann, and I am a German living in Barcelona. I am single and 32 years old. I have been working as a pilot for Lufthansa for 4 months, and it is a very exciting time for me. I have previously flown for a number of smaller airlines and as a corporate pilot in Germany, but I always wanted to fly on international routes. Now that I've made it, I realise everything isn't plain sailing, and I'll have to keep working hard to progress.

Jennie: That's true for all of us really, isn't it? So, what exactly is your current job?

Klaus: As an inexperienced pilot for a major airline, I am what is called a reserve pilot. This means that I don't have a regular workload, but instead I am a backup pilot, in case one of the more senior pilots gets sick, or something goes wrong with the airline's plans. So I am 'on-call' most of the time, waiting for my pager to go off.

Jennie: What happens when you do get paged?

Klaus: I have to get to the airport as soon as I can. I have to have my uniform and luggage packed all the time, so that I'm ready to go at a moment's notice; well, in reality, I usually have to be at the airport within 75 minutes of receiving the call - but I never know in advance where I'm going to.

Jennie: Well, it's lucky for me that you didn't get paged this morning! But really, being on call must make things difficult for you. Doesn't it drive you crazy?

Klaus: Sometimes I get a bit annoyed, especially if I'm at a restaurant or watching a movie. But I also know that it's part of the business of becoming a First Officer, and that all the other pilots have been through the same 'education' process - you have to start somewhere if you want to get to the top in this business.

Jennie: How long do you stay on reserve? Do you get any time off?

Klaus: Oh yes, of course! Sometimes I have a few days on reserve, then a few days off, and sometimes I get a long block of days off after a long period on reserve.

Jennie: So, it must be hard to plan your social life! Do you have a flat in Barcelona?

Klaus: Yes, I share one with two other reserve pilots. It's not a bad place but the problem is that we're never there at the same time. It's almost impossible to plan meals or activities together. It's a real pity because Ulrich and Michael are great guys, but we're lucky to share a cup of coffee once a week!

Jennie: Do you need to do more training at this stage of your career?

Klaus: For pilots there is always more training - everything changes constantly, and you need to keep up with it all. But at the moment it's pretty quiet - I did a 3-month training program before I came here -you know, learning about the company and our particular regulations and procedures, as well as the aircraft systems I have to deal with. I have an endorsement to fly A320s, and to get this I first had to do lots of simulator work with my training partner. We then put all that together gaining 30 hours of operating experience. Then we had a final flight test or line check as it is sometimes called.

Jennie: Well, it all sounds very thorough. Thanks Klaus, that's been very informative. Before you go, allow me to compliment you on your English. How did you become so fluent?

Klaus: It hasn't been easy, and it's taken me years. I did 12 years at school, but now I keep learning in different ways. I have a lot of English-speaking email contacts, and I love modern music. I'm a great fan of American country music would you believe? I'd love to be based in Memphis!

Jennie: Whatever method you're using Klaus, it works well

WORD LIST

actually [7XktSuEli] на самом деле

annoy [E7nOi] раздражать

backup [7bXkVp] запасной; дублёр

clarify [7klXrшfai] вносить ясность

constantly [7kOstEntli] постоянно

current [7kVrEnt] текущий, данный, современный

deal with [7di:l 6wi9] иметь дело

endorsement [in7dO:sment] подтверждение

gain [gein] получать, приобретать

go off [7gEu 6Ev] выпалить, подать сигнал

inexperienced [6inik7spiEriEnst] неопытный

informal [in7fO:ml] неофициальный

jump in [d3Vmp 7in] смешаться (в разговоре)

keep up with [7ki:p 6Vpwi9] не отставать

look forward [7lu:k 6fO:wEd] ожидать, очень хотеть, ждать с нетерпением

previously [7pri:viEsli] раньше

route [ru:t] маршрут

share [SBE] делить, разделять

simulator [7simjEleitE] тренажер

thorough [7QVrE] исчерпывающий, полный, основательный, всесторонний, доскональный, тщательный

QUESTIONS:

1. Who was interviewed?

2. What does he do?

3. Where has he been working for 4 months?

4. Does he have any days off'?

5. Where does he live?

6. Does he need to do much training?

7. How did he become so fluent in English?

² T10.3

Interview 2: The experienced pilot

Jennie: Good morning Captain Smithers, how are you today?

Captain Smithers: Hullo there Jennie, nice to meet you. And please, call me Nigel; you know, I can't stand formal titles.

Jennie: OK, well Nigel, I'm just trying to find out a little bit about the life of a first officer in modern airlines, so I was hoping you'd share some of your vast experience with us.

Nigel: I can sum up the job best by telling you an old pilots' joke. The co-pilot asks the pilot how long he's been married. The pilot answers, "12 years". The co-pilot then says, "I thought you had an adult son?" The pilot says, "I have and he's 23 - it's just that I've only been home for half of his life!" But seriously, I've been flying for BOA for 18 years now, and it's only in recent times that I've had any sort of choice about the line I hold.

Jennie: What's a "line", Nigel?

Nigel: Oh, that's airline jargon for a defined flying schedule. The more seniority you have, the more choice you get.

Jennie: So, is seniority the same as experience?

Nigel: No, not really; it's more a case of how long you've worked and how you've performed for your particular airline. If you move from airline to airline you tend to lose your seniority.

Jennie: That would help to keep people with their company, wouldn't it?

Nigel: Yes, it certainly does, yep.

Jennie: What about your typical day - what do you do?

Nigel: I work the transatlantic routes flying London to NY, Boston and Washington mainly. So I'm lucky that I don't have to spend really long hours at the controls, not like the guys who fly London to Sydney non­stop, and so on. I've done my share of those long hauls and I'm not sure I could handle them anymore. But they keep us busy, and we still don't get much time to relax.

Jennie: Yes, I've heard that - long term, it must be stressful?

Nigel: Yes and no! It's a stressful job, with all that responsibility of knowing that one mistake can mean disaster, and being away so much. But, if you think about the joke I told you, probably the greatest stress is not on me, but on my partner - and my kids, especially when they were younger. You see, I always wanted to be a pilot and I knew all along what that would take. So I've been prepared for the lifestyle, but your family don't get any choice, they just have to accept it. And I might add, fortunately my kids don't seem to hold it against me.

Jennie: And your marriage seems to have survived it OK!

Nigel: Ah yes, but I have a wonderful wife; she's the world's best mum and she also has interests of her own. Without her I couldn't have handled it.

Jennie: Just one more question before we finish. Now that you're a senior pilot, is there anything in aviation you still want to do?

Nigel: Ah, I just want to keep learning and adapting - this business changes so quickly that you can never stand still. I don't want to become one of those pilots who always talk about the 'good old days'; I want to look forward. And when I retire I want to follow my hobby - hot air ballooning, so I'll be flying for years yet, all being well.

Jennie: Thanks Nigel, I'm sure you will!!

WORD LIST

co-pilot [7kEu6pailEt] второй пилот

handle [hXndl] справляться, управлять

haul [hO:l] пройденное расстояние

I can't stand не могу терпеть

seniority [6si:ni7OrEti] трудовой стаж

survive [sE7vaiv] уцелеть, продолжать существование

tend [tend] иметь тенденцию; направляться

QUESTIONS:

1. What does Smithers do?

2. What does he mean telling the joke?

3. What is the difference between seniority and experience?

4. Is it a stressful job to his mind?

5. Is there anything in aviation he still wants to do?

² T10.4

Interview 3: The trainee pilot

Jennie: Hullo Mahinder, take a seat. How are you today?

Mahinder: Very well thanks, Jennie. I’m glad to be in here – it’s freezing out there!

Jennie: Yeah, it’s a terrible day, but that’s London in February I’m afraid. Anyway, what I’d like to do today is find out how you came to be a pilot-in-training, and perhaps you can tell me something about what lies ahead for you. First, can I ask you about your ambitions – what do you want to end up doing as a pilot?

Mahinder: Well Jennie, I grew up in a poor family in Manchester, and I left school early. I wasted years before I ealized that flying was what I wanted to do. From that moment on, I’ve worked like a slave towards the day that I’ll be a pilot flying domestic routes here in the UK. When I achieve that, I’ll be happy. I have no real ambition to fly the ‘big-time’ international routes.

Jennie: I guess that’s an unusual background for a pilot. So, how did you get started?

Mahinder: First I got an education, but that was the easy bit! While I was studying at school and at night, I also started learning to fly. I had to work two jobs as well, just to afford it. But I wanted a commercial pilot’s licence, and I would’ve run through a brick wall to get there. I had to log 250 hours in all sorts of conditions, learn to do all the manoeuvres, and then do the written test. I then had to do a test flight, which is a bit like getting your driver’s licence – you have to plan the flight, answer the examiner’s questions and, of course, fly the plane successfully!

Jennie: So, was that all you had to do?

Mahinder: Oh, no, no. You need to pass a medical test to show that you’re fit to fly, and then you also need an instrument rating.

Jennie: What is that exactly?

Mahinder: An instrument rating is about showing that you can fly by instruments alone – you know, when the weather’s really bad and you can’t see a thing. To do this you need to do ground training, a certain number of hours under instruments, and then pass another flight test. I’m happy to say I just got my rating last week – I was so relieved.

WORD LIST

achieve [E7tSi:v] достигать, получать

afford [E7fO:d] позволить себе

applicant [7XplikEnt] претендент, кандидат

be relieved быть облегченным, чувствовать облегчение

bet [bet] держать пари

big tick высокие запросы

brick wall [bri:k 7wO:l] кирпичная стена

commuter [kE7mju:tE] пригородный

crew [kru:] экипаж

determination [di6tE:mi7neiSn] решительность

domestic [dE7mestik] внутренний

endorsement [in7dO:sment] подтверждение

fit [fit] подходить

instrument rating [7instrEment 7reitiN] квалификационная отметка о допуске к полетам по приборам

licence [7laisEns] лицензия

log [lOg] тяжело работать

multi-engine plane [7mVlti] многомоторный самолет

peanut [7pi:nVt] арахис

single engine craft [7singl 7end3in 7kra:ft] одномоторный самолет

slave [sleiv] раб

waste [weist] терять (время)

QUESTIONS:

1. What do you know about Mahinder's life?

2. When and how did he start learning to fly?

3. What is instrument rating?

4. What is his aim?

² T10.5

Radio Presenter (Vera): …thanks Ronald, we'll have more from the main Newtown news desk at 4 o'clock, but now let's cross to our reporter Penelope Branson, who is at the airport, where there seems to be a rather shocking story developing. You there Penelope?

Reporter (Penelope): Yes I am Vera, I've been here at Nelson airport for about an hour, and there's chaos all around me. There's been a suspected gas leak and the entire domestic terminal has been closed for three hours. This has caused other problems, and so there's also been some delays to international flights.

Vera: So, what's happening at the moment?

Penelope: To be honest Vera, it's hard to tell, but I can tell you something about what has happened. First a small group - 3 or 4, I think - felt sick, and then about half an hour later, more and more people reported effects. At least 15 people have been taken to hospital, and dozens of others were escorted outside the terminal - they appeared to be suffering from nausea and feeling dizzy, but it seems no one has been seriously hurt at this stage.

Vera: Are there any indications exactly what's caused this Penelope?

Penelope: That's where the confusion starts I'm afraid. I've been talking to both the Fire Chief and the Domestic Terminal Operations Manager and they both have their ideas, but no definite conclusions. It seems there are three possible causes. The first is the air-conditioning system. It's possible that there is a leak of freon, which is the coolant used. The only problem is that Fire Chief Hodge says the passengers' illness was not the usual reaction to breathing in freon. It's also possible that ammonia has leaked out of a refrigeration unit here somewhere, but again Chief Hodge says that you'd probably be able to smell it. So both the Manager and Chief are favouring the third possibility that the air-conditioning has malfunctioned, and somehow recycled poor quality air.

Vera: It doesn't sound too good, whichever one. What could the dangers be for the people affected?

Penelope: I must emphasize Vera, that at this stage we simply don't know for sure what's caused this, and of course, the dangers may be small if it's just some poor air circulated for a few minutes. On the other hand, they could be quite significant if it's something nasty like ammonia. But at this point, it's looking like the main problem has passed - no one else has reported being sick in the last hour and a half.

Vera: I bet there are some pretty angry passengers out there? How long till things are moving again do you think?

Penelope: You're right about the passengers - there are hundreds waiting to board flights which have had to be delayed, and there's a huge backlog of luggage to be cleared, and of course planes waiting to land. But things do appear to be moving even if it's very slow.

Vera: Have the airlines given any information about when things will be back to normal?

Penelope: I believe the first domestic flight has just left since the evacuation of the terminal, but I imagine it's going to take most of the evening to deal with the backlog. I've heard also that Skyway will be using the international terminal during the next few hours to speed up check-ins and clear the congestion here.

Vera: OK, well thanks Penelope, and keep us posted if anything further develops, won't you?

Penelope: I certainly will.

Vera: And that was Penelope Branson at Nelson airport - we'll have more details in the news at 4. But now, it's time for our weekly quiz so pick up your phones...

WORD LIST

ammonia [E7mEuniE] аммиак

backlog [7bXklOg] накопившийся

bet [bet] держать пари

cause [kO:z] причина

chaos [keiOs] хаос

check-in [7tSekin] регистрация

confusion [kEn7fju:3n] замешательство

congestion [kEn7d3EstSEn] скопление, затор

coolant [7ku:lEnt] охладитель, хладагент

deal with [di:l] иметь дело с...

delay [di7lei] задержка (рейса)

dizzy [7dizi] чувствующий головокружение

emphasise [7emfEsaiz] подчёркивать (факт)

entire [in7taiE] весь, целый

escort [is7kO:t] сопровождать

favour [7feivE] склоняться (к мнению)

gas leak [7gXs li:k] утечка газа

indication [6indi7keiSn] показание

keep sb posted держать в курсе

malfunction [6mXl7fVNkSn] не срабатывать

nasty [7na:sti] опасный

nausea [7nO:ziE] тошнота

quiz [kwiz] опрос, викторина

recycle [6ri:7saikl] перерабатывать для вторичного использования

significant [sig7nifikEnt] важный, существенный

suffer [7sVfE] пострадать

suspected [sE7spektid] подозрительный

QUESTIONS:

1. Who is speaking in this dialogue?

2. Where is Penelope?

3. What is happening at the airport?

4. What are people suffering from?

5. Are there any ideas about situation at the airport?

6. How do passengers behave?

7. What did People hear about Skyway?

² T10.6

Vera: You might remember back in February a report about the closure of the domestic terminal at Nelson airport due to a suspected gas leak. Well I was surprised to read in the paper this morning a report saying that the cause of the suspected gas leak is still unknown. More disturbing still is that an investigation of the incident shows that the procedures need to be changed - it seems all did not go to plan that day. On the phone is the chairman of the Airport Emergency Services safety committee, Dr. Nathan Abbott. Dr. Abbott, why has it taken so long to investigate this, and what have we learned from this report?

Doctor: Good afternoon Vera. Ahh, as for the timing, we've been waiting for the report like everyone else - that is a government responsibility. But also let me say that I don't think the report is disturbing, although of course there's always something you can learn from an incident such as this.

Vera: Well what have we learned if we still don't know the cause?

Doctor: I don't think the cause is as important as you are suggesting. We've learned a lot about coordinating our medical and emergency services, and we had some valuable lessons in restoring order, and getting planes in the air as quickly as possible. As no one was seriously hurt, then we've certainly gained something from the experience. It's also shown that no matter how real a gas leak is the management of people who appear to be affected is very important.

Vera: So Dr. Abbott, are you suggesting that those 50 or so people imagined the gas?

Doctor: No, no, not at all. It's simply that alf the hundreds of tests we have done have been negative, and we just don't have a cause, I'm afraid. But no matter what it was, we still had to control the panic, and to communicate clearly. And I'm confident we did that pretty well, anyway.

Vera: I'm not so sure that the passengers stuck outside the terminal for hours on that stinking hot day would agree with you.

Doctor: Well, we had to put safety ahead of everything else - I'm sure most people would rather arrive 4 hours late than risk poisoning.

Vera: So, do you admit there was poison in the terminal air that day?

Doctor: Again, not at all, I was speaking generally - we believe that the levels of whatever was experienced in the February incident were not dangerous and our system worked well enough.

Vera: OK, I guess we'll have to take you at your word, and leave it there for today. Thanks for speaking to us Doctor, and let's hope something good does come from this.

Doctor: A pleasure as always, Vera.

WORD LIST

closure [7klEu3E] - закрытие

disturbing [dis7tE:biN] - тревожный

investigation [in6vesti7geiSn] расследование

incident [7nsidEnt] происшествие

coordinating [kEu7O:dineitiN] согласованность

valuable [7vXljuEbl] - ценный

in restoring order [ris7tO:riN] в следующем порядке

gain [gein] получить

confident [7kOnfidEnt] уверенный

stuck (stick) [stVk] торчать

stinking [7stiNkiN] - мерзкий

admit [Ed7mit] допускать

poison [pOizn] яд, ядовитое вещество

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the reason for conversation?

2. Does Dr. Abbott know a real cause of the incident?

3. What did they learn about that incident?

4. Was anyone seriously hurt?

5. Was there poison in the terminal air that day?

6. Did their system work well enough?

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