For a pilot or a controller, knowing the names of the different parts of a airport is essential for moving planes around it successfully.
In this online exercise on Aviation English vocabulary, I'll both show you and explain what the names in English are of the different parts of an airport. This exercise has been written for both pilots and controllers, not for passengers.
To learn the vocabulary for different parts of an airplane, do our exercises on parts of a plane vocabulary.
Click here to see our other exercises on 'Aviation English vocabulary'.
In the following conversation, Peter (a professional pilot) explains to Juan (a Spanish trainee pilot) the names in English of the different parts of an airport.
From the context, try to guess what the meaning of the words/phrases in bold are. Then do the quiz at the end to check if you are right.
Peter:'So Juan, today we are going to be looking at the names of the different parts of an airport which both pilots and air traffic controllers need to know.'
Juan:'Ok.'
Peter:'So to start, tell me what the name of the main building which passengers have to go through to board/get on a plane is?'
Juan:'That's called a terminal.'
Peter:'Perfect. So, in a terminal, what is the name of the place where passengers both go to and wait at to board a plane?'
Juan:'It's called a gate. But it's also the place where people get off/disembark from a plane too. These are too easy!'
Peter:'So let's make it a little more difficult. What is the area in front of the gates where planes are parked (whether directly in front of the gates or further away) called?'
Juan:'I've heard people call it the tarmac before, but I don't know if that's its name.'
Peter:'Some people do call this space where planes are parked the tarmac, but for pilots and controllers it is called the ramp or the apron.'
Juan:'Didn't know that. So what are the roads which the planes can move slowly on called? I know that the roads where planes take off and land are called runways. But what are the roads which connect the ramp to runways called.'
Peter:'These are called taxiways. And you are right when you say their purpose is that planes can move between from the ramp to the different runways at an airport or vice versa.'
Juan:'There are so many taxiways at airports, how do pilots know which is which or where to go? Or what is a taxiway and what is runway?'
Peter:'Well, first of all there are signs. These are squares or rectangles of metal which are above the ground which have information written on them (e.g. taxiway name, directions etc...) to help pilots.
In addition, there are lines and information painted on the actual taxiway, runway or ramp. These markings also help the pilots when moving around the airport.
Both signs and markings are especially important and helpful for pilots when two taxiways (or a runway and a taxiway) cross or one joins another. If there weren't signs and markings at these intersections, planes could get lost or crash together.'
Juan:'But what happens at night? It must be difficult to see signs or markings!'
Peter:'It's more difficult. So to help pilots, there are also lights on the taxiways, runways etc... which have different colours to help pilots move around airports.
There's one special flashing light which is used to show pilots who are approaching to land where the airport is at night or when visibility is low. This is called a beacon.'
Juan:'A beacon sounds like a lighthouse for planes.'
Peter:'You are right, they are very similar to lighthouses.
I have another question for you. What do you call the tall building with lots of windows which air traffic controllers use to see what's happening at the airport?'
Juan:'That's easy, it's called a control tower.'
Peter:'Perfect. And the last question. What do you call the buildings which planes can park inside?'
Juan:'You mean the buildings which have very large doors?'
Peter:'That's right.'
Juan:'They are called hangars.'
Peter:'Perfect.'
Below is a photo/picture of each of the words in bold from the above text. Now choose the word from the question's selection box which you believe matches the photo/picture. Only use one word once. Click on the "Check" button at the bottom of the quiz to check your answers.
When the answer is correct, two icons will appear below the answer. The "" icon contains extra information on the word/phrase. In the "" icon, you can listen to the pronunciation of the word/phrase.
Now that you understand the vocabulary, practise it. Click on the "" icon under each correct answer and listen to the words/phrases and then test your own pronunciation in the 'prounciation speaking test'. Then create your own sentences with the new words/phrases.
Apart from the other aviation English exercises on my website, there are some other (but not many) useful free online resources for improving your aviation English vocabulary. Below are links to these web pages:
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