FluentPilot Aviation English

20/10/2020

Hey, here is another example of an answer to an English proficiency interview question. Check it out!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGjyLzZhqJz/

07/10/2020

https://www.instagram.com/p/CF_64_zhcGO/

What could an answer to this question sound like? We keep going through a 'level-5' question list to facilitate your prep process for the aviation English proficiency interview. Check it out!

21/09/2020

We are delighted to announce that a large portion of new content is now available for the FluentPilot subscribers - the Ultimate Radiocom Quiz - a powerful tool to check and upgrade your radiocommunication listening skills!

https://fluentpilot.ru/course/ultimate-radiocom-quiz/

Ultimate Radiocom Quiz Posted 09.09.202019.09.2020 FluentPilot Welcome to the ultimate radiocom listening comprehension trainer with more than 50 short audio tracks encompassing pilot-controller interactions in various non-normals like: birdstrikes smokes, fumes and fires hardware malfunctions (stuc...

17/07/2020

What’s up fellows! The original question goes like “How may natural disasters affect conditions of taxiways and runways?” But I don’t like the wording and the logic behind it (Am I to answer “They are eight!” or “There are eleven of them!”?) So I’ve changed it. Hope you don’t mind.
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Well, first of all, we’ve got to mention thunderstorms and snowstorms involving severe precipitation like shower rain or shower snow. Under such conditions runways and taxiways get contaminated fast and braking action drops down significantly.

As for other natural disasters, floods will definitely affect operations on runways and taxiways (when maneuvering areas get completely covered with water) as well as volcanic eruptions (when volcanic ash sediments onto taxiways and runways). If the airport is located in a mountainous area, the airport infrastructure is always under a risk of being devastated by a landslide. Or by a tsunami if the airport is located by the sea in an earthquake-prone area.
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Name other natural disasters you know (in the comments below), just to make sure you've got this vocab!

#авиационныйанглийский #авиаторы #английскийязык #икао4

14/07/2020

Hey everyone! New week brings new posts! Let’s talk about brake failure today.
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First, I’d like to point out that the braking system is extremely reliable and redundant. But if such situation does occur during the landing roll, the flight crew should promptly respond to it. Normally, a standby braking system will get activated automatically (provided the aircraft has this feature). Some aircraft are equipped with a brake accumulator which provides sufficient pressure in the system to bring the plane to a stop. Besides, the pilot flying will use maximum reverser thrust and extend spoilers to help decelerate the aircraft.
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Note the thing we used in this answer – ‘situation DOES occur’ instead of ‘situation occurs’. Add an emphatic stress on ‘does’ and you’ll get a trick that your examiner will just love. We use it to underline the importance of certain words in a sentence. Cool?

#авиационныйанглийский #авиаторы #английскийязык #икао4

09/07/2020

Okay, guys! High time we got back to our beloved SELCAL Test list. By the way, if you need all the info to get yourself ready for this particular test, find it fluentpilot.ru. Or drop us a line for details.
Where were we? Ah! Pilot incapacitation! Let’s do it!
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Probably, the first thing to do here is to make sure the flight path is under control. The second step for the remaining pilot would be to declare an emergency using the MAY-DAY code and then call for a flight attendant. They will either attempt to get the incapacitated pilot out of the seat and provide this person with some first aid or secure him/her in the seat (so that the incapacitated pilot does not interfere with the handling of the aircraft).

If time permits, you should ask the flight attendant to look for a pilot onboard (perhaps deadheading in the cabin). In case there is one, you may invite this person to the cockpit to help you with standard procedures (for example to read a checklist or do simple tasks like lowering the flaps). Requesting assistance from any medically qualified passenger would also be wise.
And of course approach to the nearest appropriate airport should be performed as soon as possible.
***
Wow, it turned out to be a lengthy one! Hope you don’t mind it. Or do you?) They say, pilot incapacitation occurs more frequently than many of the other emergencies. Have you ever encountered one?

#авиационныйанглийский #авиаторы #английскийязык #икао4

07/07/2020

How are you doing guys? Good to see our Instagram is growing! You know what? Today we are gonna put the SELCAL list on hold and do a subscriber’s request. Which was about a backtrack procedure. So here we go!
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Backtracking is a ground procedure used in airports which don’t have (or cannot use) a taxiway parallel to the runway. So aircraft have to use some part of the runway for taxiing and such taxiing will be opposite to the takeoff or landing direction. Traffic controller issues an explicit authorization for this kind of maneuver which pilots are to read back.
The airport in my hometown of Murmansk has an absolutely awesome layout which will make you backtrack any time you depart in something bigger than Cessna-172
***
How often do you guys perform a backtrack procedure?

04/07/2020

Hey everyone! I believe, we’ve had runway EXcursions here already, so today let’s talk about INcursions! By the way, check post dated Oct 3 (incursions vs excursions)
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My experience tells me, the most common reasons for that are misunderstanding between the pilot and controller as well as taxi operations under low visibility conditions.

Besides, the crew might simply misread a sign and confuse a taxiway (being distracted or loaded with other tasks in the cockpit or being unfamiliar with the airport layout can be contributing factors here).
***
Interesting as it may seem, takeoffs and landings without an ATC clearance are also considered incursions. Actually, it’s a huge topic, you can always speak in detail about each of the abovementioned reasons.

#авиационныйанглийский #авиаторы #английскийязык #икао4

30/06/2020

What is up fellas! Time for the next question! Well, the question goes “different types of extinguishers”. I can remember of one type only. Can you back me up here in comments?
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To be honest, I’m only familiar with halon or freon extinguishers (they are also called BCF). Their main feature is that they are best for suppressing (putting out) fire of electric wires and lithium batteries. Besides, they can be safely used inside the cabin without posing any threat to the passengers and cabin crew onboard. The main disadvantage of such extinguishers I guess is that halon does not expel oxygen so burn back may occur.
***
What other questions may naturally stem from this topic? What other onboard emergency equipment do you know? Where is it located on board your plane?

30/06/2020

Hey guys! Good news! I’m pretty excited that I’m back to flying after 90+ days off - I have a redeye Tomsk tonight! So I want to share this joy with you and launch a friendly giveaway for all the content we have at FluentPilot.ru.

Use coupon BACKTOFLYING to get 20% off everything including 12-month subscription, SELCAL Test Unveiled, Picture Description, Radio Communication and other courses!

Warning: the sale is for two days (till end of July 1) so you better hurry! :)

25/06/2020

Hey guys! Grab some popcorn and get yourself comfortable in front of your tablet - on our YouTube channel is a new video for you. This time we go through techniques to improve fluency. The link is in the profile description!

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22/06/2020

Oh my! Here we go again! Check out post dated ‪Dec 5‬ – it’s exactly on bomb threat and pilot actions. And also a bunch of posts on unlawful interference. Well, in order not to duplicate posts let’s add some extra info.
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… You know what, for the last several months my company has been experiencing a surge of bomb threat calls. They all have been fake, however every now and then I read that our scheduled flights had to divert or return to departure airports due to a bomb threat. Such situations bring nothing but disrupted operations, financial losses to the company and frustration to passengers who don’t get to the destination on time.
***
Okay, again, all the direct actions in response to a bomb threat are covered in the other post. You this info to add a little zest to your answer.

16/06/2020

Hi everyone! Our question list is far from being perfect, so here is again a question we dealt with already a couple of months ago. Check out posts dated (Why is bird activity dangerous…), Dec 2 (Measures to minimize bird risk…), and Mar 31 (…bird ingestion affecting aircraft ops…). And since we’ve covered possible measures in depth, let’s attack the issue from a different angle!
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You know, all these measures that airports undertake (like for example…repellents, managing habitat, flares, birds of prey, etc.) cannot eliminate the possibility of hitting a bird for 100%. The risk has always been there and it will be in future. So no matter how efficient your measures are (measures of the airport ornithology service), you cannot prevent bird strikes. Thus efficiency-wise it’s way more important how ready of the flight crew are to deal with a bird strike situation. I mean how well and fast they respond to it. By the way my personal record grow by a couple of bird strikes every summer season. But none of them was a big deal, really.
***
On the other hand, the more similar question you cover, the more prepared you are for the topic. Right?

#авиационныйанглийский #авиаторы #английскийязык #икао4

12/06/2020

The authors of the SELCAL test DO love belly landings! This one is the 4th on the list!! Check out posts on Mar 28, Nov 28, Sep 20.
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The truth is, belly landing scenarios are not included into the sim training curriculum in our company. I guess, the landing gear systems are nowadays considered to be very redundant and the possibility of landing gear being stuck in the up position is very low. Anyway, common sense would dictate that if a belly landing is intended pilots would ask for a foam carpet, reduce the landing weight (if possible), request the longest runway and in terms of handling technique – would approach runway surface at minimum vertical and air speeds.
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I really can’t explain why the authors of the test are obsessed with this topic.

#авиационныйанглийский #авиаторы #английскийязык #икао4

08/06/2020

Hey, guys! Haven’t we talked about fuel starvation yet? Let’s do it then!
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There are several reasons, of course, which may lead to fuel starvation. Let’s name some of them.

There is a risk fuel system failure, for example, a fuel pump failure or structural damage of fuel lines followed by a fuel leak. Besides, the fuel filter might get clogged preventing a normal fuel flow in the system. Then comes fuel contamination. If there is any water in the fuel it may freeze and block fuel lines as well. Finally, there is always a human factor. The crew or ground personnel might miscalculate the amount of fuel they need or confuse units of measurement – I mean request in kilos and do tankering in pounds and then eventually run into a fuel starvation scenario in flight.

***

Definitely check out post dated March 16, it’s on lack of fuel as well.

#авиационныйанглийский #авиаторы #английскийязык #икао4

04/06/2020

Hey, guys! Time to go through another question!
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A decade ago CFIT used to be a real challenge to aviation safety. Fortunately, now, the avionics is so accurate and powerful that it helps avoid flight into terrain accidents. All modern passenger liners are fitted with EGPWS. It stands for enhanced ground proximity warning system.

As for the reasons that might lead to CFIT accidents, I’d point out pilot errors in navigation when the crew doesn’t monitor the flight path properly. Another example is when pilots get distracted by other responsibilities/task (one pilot is involved in radio communications and the other one is occupied with data entry into FMC). Besides, fatigue or complicated IFR conditions combined with night flying can potentially be contributing factors.
***
Well, we’ve covered about ¾ of the questions from the notorious SELCAL list. For those of you wishing get the full set of tools to prepare for the SELCAL test, visit the SELCAL Test Prep Guide at fluentpilot.ru.

#авиационныйанглийский #авиаторы #английскийязык #икао4