Green Airlines (Environmentally friendly Airlines)

October 13, 2014 Blog, English for Aviation Executives, Listening, Reading No Comments

[audio:https://aviationenglishblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/17greenairlines.mp3|titles=Green Airlines (Environmentally Friendly Airlines)]TOPIC: “GREEN” ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AIRLINES

Type of lesson: Reading Comprehension

Level: Easy

I. Read the small paragraph about aviation industry giants operating in environmentally responsible ways and pick out words in bold that have the same meaning as the following:

a. forward-thinking
b. recycling policies
c. sustainable aircraft
d. environmentally conscious
e. emissions trading
f. a global economic downturn
g. zero-emission
h. recycling program

It seems as though the recent bad economics of the airline business and the 1.global economic recession have contributed to more 2.environmentally responsible behavior and have caused some industry associations, airports and major airlines to be more 3.progressive and concerned about going green both, in the air and on the ground.

Aviation English

While IATA is reported to have set a goal of creating a plane that would be 4.emission-free in 50 years’ time and the EU promises to implement 5.an emissions cap for airlines by 2012, there are commitments to the environment that are already working.

Utilizing 6.aircraft that would have little or manageable impact on the environment, following through with corporate 7.recycling practices and investing in environmental research are just a few of the environmental efforts on the long and challenging list some airlines have come up with. A number of airlines, such as Continental (named one of the 10 “Green Giants” by Fortune Magazine in 2007), Virgin Atlantic, Jet Blue and Southwest, are known to be green leaders in what most environmentalists consider to be a “black industry”.

In its effort to reduce Detroit Metro Airport is now involved in a 8.waste-management program, which is the result of a collaborative effort by Wayne County Airport Authority and Delta Airlines. The Airport’s McNamara terminal is now equipped with new trash bins that separate trash for further recycling.

Answers: 1f, 2d, 3a, 4g, 5e, 6c, 7b, 8h

II. Keep on reading to learn more about the waste management program developed at DTW and answer the questions below:

Read this article

DETROIT, July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) and Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL – News) have expanded their commitment to the environment with the introduction of a new public recycling program at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). Beginning today, nearly 70,000 travelers who pass through DTW's McNamara Terminal each day will find that the airport's trash receptacles have been augmented by new, divided waste bins to collect recyclable plastic bottles, metal cans and paper separate from other trash.

"The Airport Authority is proud to partner with Delta to bring public recycling to Detroit Metro Airport's McNamara Terminal—home to Delta's second-largest hub and primary transpacific gateway," said WCAA Interim CEO Genelle Allen. "The new collection, sorting and recycling effort expands a similar program launched at the North Terminal when it opened in 2008 and will now allow all DTW travelers to participate in this important environmental effort."

The Airport Authority and Delta have placed 19 of the new, divided bins in locations throughout McNamara Terminal concourses A, B & C. Upon collection by airport maintenance staff, the recyclable contents of the new bins will be taken to one of four, dedicated recycling dumpsters placed below the terminal and then on to a local recycling center. Additional recycling bins may be added based upon customer participation. For now, the terminal's existing trash receptacles will also remain in place.

Nearly 7,080 tons of trash were removed from the McNamara Terminal in 2009. How much of that waste could have been recycled is not known, but the Airport Authority and Delta encourage travelers to help maximize the amount of recyclable material by appropriately disposing of plastic bottles, metal cans and paper into one of the new recycling bins.

Both WCAA and Delta have long been industry leaders in recycling. For nine of the past 10 years, DTW has recycled more aircraft de-icing fluid than any other airport worldwide. More than 36,000 lbs. of paper are recycled from Airport Authority offices each year. WCAA has also led an initiative to give used cooking grease from airport concessions a new life as biofuel to power airport service vehicles.

In the air, Delta launched the industry's first comprehensive in-flight recycling program for waste collected on domestic flights into its Atlanta hub in 2007—a program that has since expanded to include 24 domestic routes with additions planned for this year. Since its inception, Delta customers, employees, and business partners have collected more than 1.6 million pounds of newspapers and magazines, 1.3 million pounds of aluminum cans, and 348,000 pounds of plastics. More than 2,000 tons of recyclable material have been collected and diverted from landfills across the U.S. system.

Reading comprehension:

1. Please determine whether the following statements are true or false, marking them as T (true) or F(f):

1) The new public recycling program at Detroit Metro Airport is a completely new effort that has never been implemented before by the Airport Authorities (t/f?)

2) Delta customers, staff members and business partners have collected over 2 million pounds of aluminum cans and more than 1.6 million pounds of newspapers and magazines following the in-flight recycling program (t/f?)

3) The Airport Authority and Delta motivate passengers to help increase the amount of recyclable material by inappropriately disposing of plastic bottles, metal cans and paper into one of the new recycling bins. (t/f?)

4) McNamara terminal is home to Delta’s 2^nd largest hub (t/f?)

5) Delta has recycled more aircraft de-icing fluid than any other airline worldwide (t/f?)

Answers: 1F, 2F, 3F, 4T, 5F

2. Use the context to help you determine the meaning of each highlighted word:

1) Wayne County Airport Authority and Delta Air Lines have expanded their commitment to the environment with the introduction of a new public recycling program at Detroit Metro Airport.

Aviation English CO2

In this sentence, «commitment» means:

confinement to a mental institution or hospital
b. a sale or purchase of securities
c. engagement; involvement

2) The Airport Authority and Delta have placed 19 of the new, divided bins in locations throughout McNamara Terminal concourses A, B & C.

In this sentence, «concourse» means:

an assemblage; gathering
a large open space for accommodating crowds, as in a railroad station
a driveway or promenade, esp. in a park

3) The Airport Authority and Delta encourage travelers to help maximize the amount of recyclable material by appropriately disposing of plastic bottles, metal cans and paper into one of the new recycling bins.

According to the meaning of this word in the text, “dispose of smth.” may also be substituted with:

to arrange matters
to get rid of
to destroy

4) For now, the terminal's existing receptacles will also remain in place.

According to the text, “receptacles” are containers used for:

water
electricity
trash

5) The airport's trash receptacles have been augmented by new, divided waste bins to collect recyclable plastic bottles, metal cans and paper separate from other trash.

What would be opposite in meaning to “augment”?

to decrease in size or numbers
to inflate
to get rid of

6) WCAA has led an initiative to give used cooking grease from airport concessions a new life as biofuel to power airport service vehicles.

In this case «airport concessions» means:

airport waste
airport taxes
c. airport vendors (such as shops, restaurants, etc)

7) Since its inception, Delta customers, employees, and business partners have collected more than 1.6 million pounds of newspapers and magazines, 1.3 million pounds of aluminum cans, and 348,000 pounds of plastics.

In this sentence «inception» stands for:

beginning
concept
financing

8) More than 2,000 tons of recyclable material have been collected and diverted from landfills across the U.S. system.

What is the meaning of «landfill»?

filled land
trash disposal site
solid waste

9) Detroit Metro Airport's McNamara Terminal—home to Delta's second-largest hub and primary transpacific gateway," said WCAA Interim CEO Genelle Allen.

In this context what would be the correct meaning of «interim»?

a. an intervening time; interval; meantime
b. temporary
c. a temporary or provisional arrangement

Answers: 1c, 2b, 3b, 4c, 5a, 6c, 7a, 8b, 9b

3. Please complete the following sentences using appropriate active vocabulary. You may use the words provided below. Please note that not all words match the sentences.