AIRMEN’S JOURNAL
PILOT’S TALK
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PILOT’S TALK · GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Mount Etna · Level C · Unit 17

Name: __________________________ Date: ______________

Unit 17. Would Be Suspended, May Also Need: Hedged Modality and Reported Future

Words from the text: approximately, associated, additional, carrier, sector, itinerary, pose a hazard to, ground transportation, prevailing wind conditions, Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA)

A To report an official decision as a settled plan (not a guess), use would be + past participle — the future-in-the-past passive from Units 8 and 12. The speaker treats the event as fixed, because a decision has already been made.

SAC said that flight operations at Catania would be suspended until 12:00 local time because of volcanic ash and prevailing wind conditions.

The airport operator confirmed that airspace sectors C1 and B3 would be closed as part of the restrictions.

would be + причастие = репортируемое будущее: решение уже принято, говорящий уверен.

B may (also) need + noun / to-infinitive expresses a cautious, officially worded possibility. The speaker does not commit to a fact — only signals that something could become necessary. This hedged tone is typical of airport and airline press releases, where overpromising must be avoided.

Airlines may also need additional time to reposition aircraft and crews.

Affected passengers may need ground transportation if their flight is diverted to another airport.

Because volcanic ash poses a hazard to aircraft, carriers may need to review their routes.

may (also) need — осторожная возможность, а не факт; смягчает официальное заявление.

C Official statements often move from the firm would be (a decision already taken) to the cautious may be / may need (a possible future development), within the same announcement. Recognising this shift tells you how confident the source really is.

FormCertaintyExample
would be + V3firm, already decidedFlights would be suspended until 12:00.
may be + V3possible, not yet decidedThe airspace may be reopened earlier than planned.
may (also) need + noun/to-inf.possible future necessityAirlines may also need additional time to restore schedules.

INGV reported an ash plume reaching approximately 4 kilometers above sea level, with the cloud moving south.

The reopening of flight operations depends on associated airspace restrictions and wind direction.

Сравните степень уверенности: would be (твёрдо) → may be (возможно) → may need (возможная необходимость).

Exercises

17.1 Rewrite each direct statement as an official reported statement, using would be + past participle after said that.

Example: "We will suspend all arrivals and departures until further notice." (SAC) → SAC said that all arrivals and departures would be suspended until further notice.

  1. "We will divert flights to Palermo and Trapani." (Aeroitalia)
  2. "We will cancel KM642 and KM643 because of the volcanic activity." (KM Malta Airlines)
  3. "We will close airspace sectors C1 and B3." (the authorities)
  4. "We will restore full schedules by September 28." (the airport operator)
  5. "We will reopen the airport once the ash cloud moves away." (SAC)
  6. "We will send diverted flights to Comiso and Palermo." (Italian air traffic control)

17.2 Rewrite these confident statements as cautious, hedged predictions using may or may also need.

Example: "Airlines need extra time to reposition aircraft and crews." → Airlines may also need additional time to reposition aircraft and crews.

  1. "Passengers need ground transportation to continue their journey to Catania."
  2. "SAC needs to issue a new VONA if the ash plume grows."
  3. "The airport needs to extend the suspension beyond 12:00."
  4. "Carriers need to update passengers' itineraries."
  5. "Brussels Airlines needs to arrange alternative flights for the affected passengers."

17.3 Complete the official airport statement with would be + the correct past participle of a verb from the box: suspend, close, divert, cancel, reopen, restore, monitor.

Example: SAC announced that flight operations at Catania ______ (suspend) until 12:00 local time. → would be suspended

  1. Airspace sectors C1 and B3 ________________ (close) as part of the restrictions.
  2. Incoming flights ________________ (divert) to Palermo, Trapani and Comiso.
  3. KM Malta Airlines confirmed that KM642 and KM643 ________________ (cancel) because of the volcanic activity.
  4. The airport operator added that services ________________ (reopen) gradually once conditions improved.
  5. Officials said that normal schedules ________________ (restore) by September 28.
  6. SAC stated that flight operations ________________ (suspend) until the ash cloud moved away.
  7. The ash cloud, reaching approximately 4 kilometers high, ________________ (monitor) by INGV throughout the day.

17.4 Read these sentences from airport and airline statements. Mark each one C (certain, firm decision — would be) or P (possible, hedged prediction — may/may need).

Example: "SAC said that flight operations would be suspended until 12:00 local time." → C — would be + passive reports a firm decision already taken.

  1. "Airlines may also need additional time to reposition aircraft and crews."
  2. "The airspace may be reopened earlier than planned if conditions improve."
  3. "The reopening depends on associated airspace restrictions, which may be lifted by evening."
  4. "KM Malta Airlines confirmed that KM642 and KM643 would be canceled."
  5. "Passengers may need ground transportation if their flight is diverted."
  6. "Brussels Airlines said that around 140 passengers would be affected by the cancellation."

Answer key

Mount Etna · Level C · Unit 17. Open-ended responses are model answers, not the only correct responses.

Unit 17. Would Be Suspended, May Also Need: Hedged Modality and Reported Future

17.1

  1. Aeroitalia said that flights would be diverted to Palermo and Trapani.
  2. KM Malta Airlines said that KM642 and KM643 would be canceled because of the volcanic activity.
  3. The authorities said that airspace sectors C1 and B3 would be closed.
  4. The airport operator said that full schedules would be restored by September 28.
  5. SAC said that the airport would be reopened once the ash cloud moved away.
  6. Italian air traffic control said that diverted flights would be sent to Comiso and Palermo.

17.2

  1. Passengers may need ground transportation to continue their journey to Catania.
  2. SAC may need to issue a new Volcano Observatory Notice for Aviation (VONA) if the ash plume grows.
  3. The airport may need to extend the suspension beyond 12:00.
  4. Carriers may need to update passengers' itineraries.
  5. Brussels Airlines may need to arrange alternative flights for the affected passengers.

17.3

  1. would be closed
  2. would be diverted
  3. would be canceled
  4. would be reopened
  5. would be restored
  6. would be suspended
  7. would be monitored

17.4

  1. P — may also need expresses a cautious possibility, not a guaranteed fact.
  2. P — may be + V3 shows the outcome is still undecided.
  3. P — may be lifted shows the restrictions are not yet confirmed as ending.
  4. C — would be canceled reports an announced, firm decision.
  5. P — may need shows a possible, not certain, requirement.
  6. C — would be affected reports the airline's firm statement about the result.