Control Tower

The control tower is the centre of airport traffic control. Air controllers use radar, radio, signal lights and other electronic equipment to guide planes when they take off and land. They give pilots permission to take off or tell them which runway to use. At busier airports, controllers handle up to 200 aircraft per hour.

Hangars

Hangars are buildings in which airplanes are repaired or serviced . Most airlines have their own hangars, in which they can park many jets at the same time. Most hangars are far away from terminals and runways so that they do not interfere with airport traffic . 

Other facilities

Airports have many other buildings. Food kitchens or catering companies prepare food that is brought onto planes. Large airlines often have their offices in their own buildings. All airports have big parking lots or houses, and most airports are connected with the inner cities through trains or subways. 



Air traffic control tower at Birmingham Airport, U.K.
Image: Myself (Adrian Pingstone)., Public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons



Lufthansa Airbus in a hangar
Image :  C Mercieca at English WikipediaW, Public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons



Words

  • airport traffic = the planes that take off and land
  • catering = company that prepares food and drinks for airlines
  • connect = link
  • equipment = tools and machines you need to do a job
  • guide = lead; show where to go
  • handle = deal with
  • interfere = get in the way of
  • parking lot = large area for parking
  • permission = to be officially allowed to do something
  • repair = to fix something when it is broken
  • service = here : examine an airplane to see if something is broken and repair it if necessary