Ámbito Lengua y Literatura
9. Completa estas oraciones con la forma que corresponda del verbo que aparece en infinitivo entre paréntesis al final
One of the common challenges that you will encounter is the “jargon”
or slang that is used in the airline industry. It would be impossible to come up with an all inclusive list of terms and abbreviations, learning the basics however will help you identify terms and descriptions you have never heard of before. Please note that some terms might have slight variations from airline to airline or country to country.
The table below lists the some examples of expressions used by the cabin crew.
Expressions What does it mean?
The block out for a flight is 1215, the wheels up time is 1245.
After the blocks were removed and the aircraft left the gate, the aircraft taxied for 30 minutes before it was cleared for take off.
Our ETA into JFK is 1945 local.
The flight is scheduled to arrive at New York’s JFK airport at 7:45pm local time.
We blocked in at 0730 local. The flight arrived at the gate at 7:30am.
ATC diverted us to LGW because of fog.
Air Traffic control could not allow the flight to land at the originally
scheduled airport because of fog and the flight was directed to land at London’s Gatwick Airport.
The Captain said we’ll be holding for the next 0:30 minutes because of congestion at CDG.
Air Traffic Control cannot give clearance for the flight to land at Charles De Gaulle Airport (Paris) because of heavy air traffic into the airport. The Captain has been directed to fly in at a specific altitude and in a circle pattern “holding” at that altitude and in that flight pattern for the next 30 minutes
The plane is scheduled at 1300 and turns in 0:45 minutes.
The plane is scheduled to arrive at 1:00pm and departs again in 0:45 minutes.
There are 20 “throughs” on the flight to Frankfurt.
There are 20 passengers who will remain on the flight that makes a stop between the origination of the flight and destination in Frankfurt.
Flight 7 originates in JFK and makes an intermediate stop in ORD and terminates in LAX.
Flight #7 leaves John F Kennedy Airport in New York, makes a stop in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport and then continues on and ends in
Los Angeles.
“I’m a non rev on the standby list for the flight to YUL.
I’m using a reduced rate benefit, or non revenue ticket to take a flight to Montreal.
Phonetic Alphabet
English is required to be used in radio communications between an aircraft and the control tower during international travel. English is also used in communications between pilots and other aircraft and airline personnel in the air or on the ground. The NATO phonetic alphabet is a form of code used in the aviation industry that aids this communication. The phonetic alphabet is the common name for the international telephony spelling alphabet. Code words are assigned to letters of the English alphabet to spell out parts of a message or call signs that are critical or might be hard to recognise with voice communication. Regardless of one’s native language it clearly identifies letters and information that might otherwise be easily misunderstood.
For example saying taxiway C-C might easily sound like T-T over a radio or other voice communication and be misinterpreted. Saying
“taxiway Charlie-Charlie” avoids that potential mistake.
The chart below will help you associate letters and numbers with the right English code words. You will notice with the numbers that 3, 5 and 9 vary from their English pronunciation.
LETTER CODE WORD
A Alfa B Bravo C Charlie D Delta E Echo F Foxtrot G Golf H Hotel I India J Juliette K Kilo L Lima M Mike N November O Oscar P Papa Q Quebec R Romeo S Sierra T Tango U Uniform V Victor W Whiskey X X-Ray Y Yankee
Z Zulu 0 Zero 1 One 2 Two
3 Tree (Pronounced)
4 Four
5 Fife (Pronounced)
6 Six 7 Seven 8 Eight
9 Niner (Pronounced)
As cabin crew you will most likely use these codes to clarify gate or location information.
For example, you may need to make announcements over the airplane’s public address system about connecting gate information for passengers transferring to other flights, or you may request information from the captain or another member of the crew. Let us say that you need to announce that passengers connecting to a flight will have to go to gate D5, you would say, “Delta Fife”, or if a
passenger asks at which concourse is Airflow Airways, you could say, “Airflow Airways is located at the Echo Concourse”
(E Concourse) Call Signs
Call signs are another form of radio communication used in aviation.
Call signs are unique words or call letters for a particular transmitting station. You may be more familiar with call signs that are associated with radio and television broadcasting stations such as KTTT.
Aviation call signs come from several different policies depending on the type of flight operation. Most commercial airlines including air cargo and air taxi operators will use an ICAO registered call sign for their company which is used along with their flight number to identify themselves to the air traffic controllers or other aircraft. For example,
“Speedbird” is the registered call sign for British Airways, so the Captain on British Airways flight 476 would identify the flight as “this is Speedbird four-seven-six.” To find out more information on call signs go to http://www.airodyssey.net/reference/airlines.html.
On the next few pages you have a mini-glossary of terms and definitions that will help you master the language of the airline industry.
Term Definition
AIRPORT Location where an aircraft takes off and lands, and loads and unloads passengers and cargo.
Many of the larger airports have their own fire and law enforcement departments, customs and immigration and medical facilities along with retail and hotel establishments.
AIRWAY A controlled pathway or corridor of flight, a
“highway in the sky”.
ALTERNATE AIRPORT An airport other than the originally scheduled destination airport. The alternate airport is used in the event that the aircraft cannot land at the original destination, usually due to weather.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC)
Official authority in charge of the safe, orderly, and quick flow of air traffic in flight or operating in the area of a runway.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
A person working in air traffic control.
APPROACH Final part of the flight when the aircraft is about to land. Also referred to as initial approach and final approach. When an aircraft is on “final approach” it is in direct line with the runway for landing.
ARRIVALS Passengers enter this area as they leave the aircraft. This is the area where passengers encounter immigration, customs and baggage claim.
BAGGAGE CLAIM A place in the airport terminal where passengers locate and retrieve their luggage.
Term Definition
BOARDING PASS Ticket given once a customer has checked in. It assists the customer with seat and gate assignments and departure time. It must be presented to allow the customer to board the aircraft. It contains the following information: customer name, flight number, date, class of service, seat number and departure and arrival information and any special requests (meal, wheelchair assistance, etc).
BUREAU DE CHANGE Office or location where money can be changed from one form of currency to another.
BLOCKS, CHOCS Rubber or wooden stops that are used to keep the aircraft from rolling when parked.
BLOCK TO BLOCK (BLOCK TIME)
The time from removal of the blocks at flight departure to placement of the blocks at flight arrival.
BLOCK IN When blocks are placed at the aircraft wheels upon arrival or to park the aircraft.
BLOCK OUT When blocks are removed from the aircraft wheels for departure and after movement of the aircraft begins.
BOARD (BOARDING) Process of enplaning (or loading) passengers onto the aircraft.
BOARDING STAIRS Steps used to enter or leave an aircraft.
The stairs are a moveable unit which is placed at the aircraft door if an aircraft does not have access to a jetway at the terminal.
CARRY ON LUGGAGE Item brought in the cabin by a passenger- must be stowed in the overhead
compartment or under the seat.
CATERING Food, beverages and galley supplies brought to the aircraft for a flight. Catering or commissary also refers to the
department responsible for handling all food, beverages and supplies.
Term Definition
CALL LIGHT A light signaling the cabin crew to respond to a passenger’s needs, usually located above the passengers’ seats, or on the armrest.
CONTROL TOWER Airport building where air traffic controllers can oversee and direct aircraft movement.
CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT (also referred to as Passenger Service Agent)
Staff that assists with the passenger and operational related functions of an airline at the airport.
DE-ICE Process of removing ice from aircraft wings, usually with chemicals
DEAIRCRAFT Term used to denote passengers leaving the aircraft.
DIVERSION When an aircraft is not allowed to land at its destination and directed to land elsewhere, usually because of weather.
ECONOMY CLASS The least expensive seats in an aircraft. In the US it is referred to as coach class.
CARGO The shipment of goods in the baggage
compartment of the aircraft; an additional source of revenue for the airline.
DEBRIEF A meeting following an event that requires authorities to get information about what happened, what procedures were used and what could have been done differently. It is mandatory after an accident or critical incident.
DEAIRCRAFT/DISEMBARK To leave the aircraft.
DEPARTURE LOUNGE (GATE AREA)
Area where passengers wait before boarding the aircraft.
DISPATCH The department responsible for providing flight plans, weather reports and other important information regarding the flight to the cockpit crews.
Term Definition
E-TICKET Electronic ticket issued from a machine or via email that confirms a booking or reservation.
ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL (ETA)
The time at which a flight is estimated to arrive at the destination
ESTIMATED TIME OF DEPARTURE (ETD)
The time at which a flight is scheduled to depart from a particular city.
ENROUTE On or along the way. Example: The flight is enroute from New York to London.
ESTIMATED FLIGHT TIME The estimated flight time between two points.
F Letter used on a ticket to designate First
Class service or fare.
FERRY FLIGHT To fly an aircraft from one point to another without passengers onboard.
FLIGHT PLAN Information provided to the cockpit crew by dispatch prior to every flight. It includes the planned routing, flying time, altitude, amount of fuel on board.
FLIGHT SCHEDULE Timetable showing all flights of an airline.
GATE The exit in the departure lounge that leads to the aircraft
GROUND TIME Period of time an aircraft and/or crew spend on the ground between flights.
Term Definition
HANGAR A building where aircrafts are sheltered and serviced by maintenance personnel.
HOLDING (HOLDING PATTERN)
When an aircraft is near its destination airport but must fly in a pattern around the airport at a specified altitude and wait for landing clearance from Air Traffic Control.
Usually due to weather or heavy air traffic into an airport.
HUB (HUB and SPOKE) Base or home port of an airline.
Passengers will fly in from other airports to this hub and connect with other aircraft to get to their destinations.
IMMIGRATION Official point of entry into a country where visas and passports of passengers are checked.
INTERLINE When a passenger travels and connects to a different airline to reach a destination.
INBOUND Passengers or flight coming into an airport.
INTERMEDIATE STOP (TRANSIT)
Any city where a flight stops between its originating and terminating points.
J Letter used on a ticket to designate
business class service or fare.
Term Definition
JETWAY (JETTY) Enclosed tunnel like passageway brought to the aircraft that allows entry and exit from the aircraft.
LANDING CARD Form completed by passengers and handed to immigration upon arrival in a country.
LAYOVER To a passenger this term refers to the time between flights at an airport. To a
crewmember a layover period is the amount of time that separates two on duty periods.
The layover station or city refers to the actual location where you are off duty for your rest period. Example: You arrive in Paris at 1800 and depart the next day at 2100. Your layover period is 27 hours and your layover station is Paris.
MANIFEST List of passengers and cargo.
NO SHOW Can refer to a passenger who reserves a seat on a flight but does not check on or travel OR it can refer to a crewmember who fails to report for a flight assignment.
NON REVENUE PASSENGER
A person traveling on a free or service charge only ticket. Airline employees traveling as part of their benefit are referred to as non revs or pass riders.
OUTBOUND Refers to a flight or passengers leaving an airport.
PASSENGER Person traveling often referred in shortened form as PAX.
Term Definition
PASSENGER LOAD Total number of passengers on the aircraft.
POSITIVE SPACE A confirmed reservation, guaranteed seating.
RAMP (APRON, TARMAC) The paved area on the field side of the terminal building where aircraft are parked to load and unload passengers.
RAMP SERVICE AGENT A person who handles and loads the aircraft with luggage and cargo.
REVENUE PASSENGER Refers to customers who pay full fare for air transportation
RUNWAY The specially prepared concrete surface used for take-off and landing, usually aligned so aircraft can take off into the wind.
SCHEDULED FLIGHT TIME
The total projected time of a flight, from take-off to landing.
SEAT ASSIGNMENT Specified seats assigned to passengers at the time they check in prior to boarding.
SECURITY CHECK A point in the airport where all passengers, crew and airport personnel will be screened before boarding a flight or gaining access to the gate area.
SLOT Refers to the pre arranged time that a flight is scheduled to take off, fly and land at the next destination.
Term Definition
SPECIAL MEAL Meal that meets dietary restrictions or preferences. Passengers order these in advance of a flight and include types such as “kosher”, “vegetarian” or “children’s meal”.
STAND-BY PASSENGER A passenger who does not have a confirmed reservation but arrives at the airport with the hope of being
accommodated at departure time. Non revenue travelers are considered stand by.
TAXIWAY A prepared portion of land over which aircraft will move to and from a runway or hangar.
TERMINAL BUILDING A building at the airport where passengers check in and depart or arrive on a flight
TRANSIT PASSENGER A person continuing on a flight through an intermediate (transit) stop. Also referred to as a “thru passenger”.
TERMINATING STATION The city where a flight makes its last stop for the day.
THROUGH PASSENGER (THRU PASSENGER)
A person continuing on through an intermediate stop to a further destination.
TICKET A coupon or series of coupons issued by an airline that confirms a passenger’s
reservation and allows him/her to board the aircraft.
Term Definition
TURN TIME Refers to the amount of time between arrival and an aircraft’s next flight. Used by staff to reference how much time they have to “ready” the aircraft for the next flight.
UM Unaccompanied minor, a child traveling
without an adult.
VIP Very important person or passenger.
Usually requires extra attention and have special requests regarding his/her travel.
WEIGHT AND BALANCE A mathematical calculation done prior to departure of a flight to assure aircraft stability and flight safety. It takes into account load factor (passenger, cargo, fuel) and other conditions of the flight.
WHEELS ON Refers to the aircraft landing gear touching the runway. The wheels on time for a flight may be 1830 but block in (or the time it reaches the gate and is parked) is 1850.
WHEELS UP (WHEELS OFF)
Refers to actual take off time of the aircraft as it leaves the runway. The block out for a flight (when the blocks are removed and the aircraft leaves the gate) is 1215, the wheels up or off time is 1245 – the aircraft taxied for 30 minutes before it was cleared for take off.
Y Letter that designates economy or coach
class or service.
Progress Check
1. List the 4 different uses for General Aviation Aircraft?
2. List the aircraft that cabin crew flies in, who owns this aircraft type and the main reason why this aircraft is used move passengers and cargo?
3. Commercial Transport Aircraft are used to carry passengers and cargo. TRUE or FALSE
4. General Aviation Aircraft are also known as “corporate aircraft”.
TRUE or FALSE
5. Choose the correct statements:
a) A wing is almost flat on the bottom and curved on the top.
b) The wing’s airfoil shape helps create the force called drag.
c) A tail is also known as the empennage.
d) Landing gear is also known as the undercarriage.
e) Most high speed aircraft, use fixed landing gears.
f) The landing gear is the only aircraft part that is not referred to as airframe.
6. What is a tricycle landing gear?
7. Using the phonetic alphabet in aviation communication how would you say the following:
y The flight arrives at Gate E 3.
y Northwest Airlines is located on Concourse F at terminal C.
Answer Key
1. Personal transportation, business trips, emergency aid and teach student pilots to fly.
2. Commercial Transport Aircraft, Airlines, to make a profit.
3. True 4. True
5. a), c), d)
6. Two main wheels or wheel assemblies under each wing and another other the nose
7. ECHO TREE; Concourse FOXTROT at Terminal Charlie
Lesson Summary
In general, aircraft can be placed into the following three categories:
1. Commercial transport aircrafts are owned by airlines and used