Airplane Maintenance

Link to article

This article discussed the "behind the scenes" maintenance and service done on airplanes in order to keep them running.  Quick fixes and minor issues are addressed in between flights, where the pilot keeps track of certain mishaps experienced during the flight for the maintenance crew, such as spilled drinks on cushions and minor technological issues.  For large maintenance projects, the planes are taken to a hangar to be worked on.  This article was written by a CNN writer who went to a United Airlines garage in Houston for the story.  Also, the article spotlighted Thanksgiving travel as that is an especially busy time for airlines (24 million American passengers during the holiday week).

As a piece to both entertain and inform, the article is intended for any curious person interested in the inner-workings of the airport scene.  People wondering about how airplanes are kept safe and clean for passengers may also be interested in this text.  One way the article portrays its information is through ethos and the use of professionals in the field.  The article includes excerpts from an interview with the manager of the United Airlines technical operations department in Houston as well as other workers in order to add accurate insight.  The author also uses hyperbole in order to emphasize his points.  Because the device is used mainly with numbers, however, the text is confusing at points.  Real statistics are mixed with the exaggerations and become cluttered.  In addition, the author uses the narration of the everyday situations airplane maintenance workers experience to compliment the statements he makes about the overall system.  This helps bring down the level of sophistication for the everyday reader.  Because of the appropriate diction and the execution of writing to the audience, the article accomplishes its purpose of both informing and entertaining the reader.