Look at the photograph above and describe what you can see. Try to speak for about a minute, moving from a general overview of the scene, to the details, and finally to speculation about what is happening and why. Use the words in the box to help you. If you are not sure how to structure your answer, read our guide on how to describe a picture.
This photograph shows a large, twin-engine passenger jet parked on a remote stand, or dispersal, some distance from the main terminal. The aircraft has a smart, official-looking livery — mostly white, with a blue and gold cheatline along the windows and a small national flag on the tail — and there is no airline name on the fuselage, which suggests it is a government or state aircraft rather than an ordinary commercial flight. A set of mobile air stairs has been pushed up against the forward door, and the auxiliary power unit, or APU, is probably running to supply power while the engines are shut down. On the apron, a small group of officials in dark suits and two ground crew in high-visibility vests are waiting near the steps, while some baggage is being unloaded from the hold. The visibility looks rather poor, with a hazy, overcast sky in the background. I would guess that this is a VIP flight, perhaps carrying a politician or a senior official who has just arrived and is about to step down onto the apron to a waiting car.
Answer the questions
Where is the aircraft parked, and how can you tell it is not at a normal passenger terminal?
What do the livery and the markings — and the lack of an airline name — tell you about the type of flight?
Why have the air stairs, the baggage cart and the car been positioned around the aircraft?
What are the weather and visibility like, and how might they affect operations?
Who do you think is on board, and what is probably about to happen next?
On a remote stand, or dispersal, away from the main terminal — there is no air bridge, so mobile air stairs are being used instead, and the control tower and other aircraft are some distance away in the background.
The clean white livery with a simple cheatline, a national flag on the tail and no airline name points to an official government or state aircraft rather than a normal commercial airliner.
The air stairs let people board and leave without a jet bridge, the baggage cart is unloading the hold, and the limousine is waiting to drive an important passenger away as soon as they step down.
The sky is hazy and overcast, so visibility is fairly poor. Reduced visibility can slow arrivals and departures and may have delayed this flight or others around it.
Most likely a VIP — a politician or senior official — who has just arrived. They are probably about to come down the steps and be driven away in the waiting car while the ground crew finish unloading.
a parking area for aircraft away from the main terminal, often used for VIP, military or cargo flights.
air stair (mobile stairs)
a set of steps on wheels pushed up to an aircraft door so people can board or leave when there is no jet bridge.
APU (auxiliary power unit)
a small engine, usually in the tail, that supplies electrical power and air conditioning while the main engines are shut down.
ground crew
the staff who work around the aircraft on the apron, handling baggage, power, fuel and servicing.
baggage
the suitcases and bags carried by passengers, loaded into and out of the aircraft’s hold.
visibility
how far you can see clearly; reduced by haze, fog, rain or low cloud, and important for safe flight operations.
cheatline
the coloured stripe that runs along the side of the fuselage, usually at window level, as part of the livery.
apron
the paved area at an airport where aircraft park, load and are serviced (also called the ramp).
Speaking practice
Have you ever been involved in handling a VIP or government flight, or seen one at your airport? What was different about it?
What special arrangements do airports make for VIP flights, and how can they disrupt normal traffic?
Should VIP and government flights receive priority over scheduled commercial flights? Why, or why not?
Record yourself on a phone voice memo so you can play it back and self-review. Compare your description with the sample answer above — the goal is a clear, structured response that moves from an overview to the details and then to what you think is happening.
CEFR Level B2 / ICAO Level 5
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