AIRMEN’S JOURNAL
PILOT’S TALK
← Level B lessonsMOUNT ETNA · LEVEL B · UNIT 10

Airlines May Need Extra Time: Possible Future Necessity

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Words from the text: need extra time, restore, depend on, reopen, disrupt, suspend, operator, capacity, hazard, schedule, reposition

A In Unit 2 you learned must for strict rules and obligations. Now compare it with may need (to), which shows that something is possibly necessary in the future, not certain and not a fixed rule.

Catania Airport must suspend all flights when dangerous ash is present. (a strict rule)

Airlines may need extra time to reposition aircraft after a long suspension.

must = это обязательно (правило, приказ). may need = это, вероятно, понадобится (прогноз, не приказ). Не путайте их: must нельзя смягчить словом 'possibly'.

B Form: subject + may need + noun, or subject + may need to + verb. May does not change for person, and there is no 'does/do'.

CorrectIncorrect
Airlines may need extra time.Airlines mays need extra time.
The airport may need to reopen slowly.The airport may need reopen slowly.

The operator may need extra time to restore the schedule.

Ground crews may need to check the aircraft before departure.

The operator may needs more staff. (incorrect — no -s after may need)

Русские учащиеся часто добавляют -s после may need или забывают to перед вторым глаголом (may need to restore, а не may need restore).

C We often use may need together with whether or depend on to show that the future is uncertain and connected to other conditions.

Whether the airport reopens depends on the wind direction.

Airlines may need extra time, depending on how long the hazard continues.

После depend on ставится существительное или вопрос с whether, а не инфинитив: 'depends on the wind direction', не 'depends to'.

Exercises

Write your answers below, then open Answers. There is no automatic checking. Entries are not saved when you leave this page.

10.1 Choose must or may need to complete each sentence.

Example: Airlines ______ (must / may need) extra time to reposition aircraft after a long suspension. → may need

  1. The airport operator (must / may need) suspend all flights when ash is detected.
  2. Ground crews (must / may need) extra time to restore the schedule after disruption.
  3. Passengers (must / may need) extra time to reach their connecting flights.
  4. Pilots (must / may need) follow instructions from air traffic control.
  5. The airport (must / may need) extra time before it can reopen safely.
  6. Airlines (must / may need) report any hazard to the operator immediately.
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. must
  2. may need
  3. may need
  4. must
  5. may need
  6. must

10.2 Rewrite these strict requirements as probable future necessity, using may need to.

Example: Catania Airport must close until conditions improve. → Catania Airport may need to close until conditions improve.

  1. The airline must cancel more flights because of the ash cloud.
  2. SAC must extend the suspension beyond 12:00.
  3. Crews must reposition aircraft that were diverted to Palermo.
  4. The operator must reduce capacity while the ash cloud remains close.
  5. Passengers must change their travel plans because of the disruption.
  6. Airlines must restore their normal schedule after the suspension ends.
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. The airline may need to cancel more flights because of the ash cloud.
  2. SAC may need to extend the suspension beyond 12:00.
  3. Crews may need to reposition aircraft that were diverted to Palermo.
  4. The operator may need to reduce capacity while the ash cloud remains close.
  5. Passengers may need to change their travel plans because of the disruption.
  6. Airlines may need to restore their normal schedule after the suspension ends.

10.3 Write a forecast about Catania Airport reopening normally. Use may need (to), and other words from the prompts.

Example: airlines / reposition aircraft → Airlines may need to reposition aircraft.

  1. SAC / need extra time / restore the schedule
  2. ground staff / extra time / handle diverted passengers
  3. airlines / reposition crews before flights resume
  4. the operator / extra time / check the airspace restrictions
  5. passengers / extra time / reach Catania by bus from Palermo
  6. whether flights resume / depend on / the wind direction
Answers

For open questions, these are model answers. Other answers may also be correct.

  1. SAC may need extra time to restore the schedule.
  2. Ground staff may need extra time to handle diverted passengers.
  3. Airlines may need to reposition crews before flights resume.
  4. The operator may need extra time to check the airspace restrictions.
  5. Passengers may need extra time to reach Catania by bus from Palermo.
  6. Whether flights resume may depend on the wind direction.