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?

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!!