VOA慢速英语2105 美国下调泰国航空安全评级

AS IT IS 2015-12-05 US Downgrades Thai Air Safety 美国下调泰国航空安全评级

Thailand’s Prime Minister, Prayut Chanocha, has ordered air transport officials to improve flight safety because of international criticism.

由于国际社会的舆论批评，泰国总理巴育.占奥差（Prayut Chanocha）下令航空运输管理人员改善航空安全以重振泰国航空业的声誉。

On Tuesday, the United States lowered its rating of Thailand’s air safety. That move could hurt the Thai tourism industry. 

周二，美国联邦航空管理局下调了泰国航空安全评级。此举可能会对泰国旅游业带来一定负面影响。

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration moved Thailand from a category one rating to category two. The FAA did not provide details on its decision. It said officials found Thailand’s civil aviation administration lacking in one or more critical areas. This could include technical expertise¹, training processes and inspection² systems.

美国联邦航空管理局将泰国航空安全评级从一类下调至二类。然而，美航空管理局并未就其决议发表任何详细信息。该局还表示，调查人员发现泰国民航总局在一个或多个专业领域存在着管理缺陷。包括专业技术、培训流程以及检测系统。

The U.S. decision follows earlier criticism. In March, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) reported concerns about Thailand’s aviation safety.

国际社会的批评掀起后，美国才做出这一决定。今年三月份，国际民用航空组织曾报道过泰国航空存在着安全隐患。

Soon after the organization’s report, South Korea, Japan and China limited Thai-based airline operations in their airspace. Reports say some of those restrictions³ have been eased since.

继该报道之后，韩国、日本和中国都对泰国航空公司在本国的飞行航线加以限制。有消息称一些领空限制已有所缓解。

Thailand’s national carrier, Thai Airways⁴ International, said the FAA decision would have no immediate⁵ effect. Some experts disagree. They have expressed concerns about the effect on Thailand’s critical tourism industry.

泰国的国航部门——泰国国际航空公司表示，美国联邦航空管理局这一决定所造成的商业影响微乎其微。一些专家则不以为然,他们表示此举会对泰国旅游业产生重大影响。

Thai Airways President, Charamporn Jotikasthira, spoke⁶ with VOA earlier this year. He noted⁷ that the airline no longer flies directly to the United States. He told VOA he is more concerned about the judgement of European air officials. A critical report from them would affect Thai flights to all European destinations.

年初，泰航总裁乍林蓬在接受美国之音采访时表示，目前公司没有任何直飞美国的航班，因此，他更担心的是欧洲航空官员的态度。这些官员的一举一动将会影响所有泰国飞欧洲的航班。

The European Aviation Safety Agency is to release results of its investigation⁸ on December 15.

欧洲航空安全局将于12月15日发布其所调查的结果。

Words in This Story

tourism – n. the business of providing hotels, restaurants, entertainment, etc., for people who are traveling

aviation – n. the business or practice of flying airplanes, helicopters, etc.

category – n. a group of people or things that are similar in some way

expertise – n. special skill or knowledge: the skill or knowledge an expert has

destination – n. a place to which a person is going or something is being sent

1 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

2 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 AIRWAYS   

航空公司

参考例句：

• The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。
• At one point the company bought from Nippon Airways a 727 jet. 有一次公司从日本航空公司买了一架727型喷气机。

5 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。